CONCORD, NH — Concord High School was place on lockdown Thursday after a former student reportedly accessed the building.
Tim Herbert, the principal of the school, told parents a student reported to administration that they were approached by a man, who was not a student at the school. The man was looking for the location of another student. When administrators found out about the man, they contacted the school resource officer, who called police, and the building was placed on lockdown.
“Within minutes of the report, the School Resource Officer located the individual,” Herbert said.
Kathleen Murphy, the superintendent of schools, informed parents of students at the school that “a former student’s presence in the building, for unknown reasons,” was the reason for the lockdown.
Just past 1 p.m., the school resource officer called for backup after the reported trespassing, according to scanner chatter. Administrators, she said, were looking at surveillance video at the school in an effort to track the man down. More officers then headed to the school.
The suspect was described as having long dreadlocks and wearing a gray hoodie, shorts, and red slides. The SRO said there was about a 15-minute delay with the information. The suspect was seen on video on the fifth floor of the building at the time, she said. The suspect was in a bathroom on the fifth floor for about 10 minutes, the SRO said.
While police were there, an accident was reported in the area of Westbourne Street.
Around 1:15 p.m., an officer found the suspect on Warren Street and began chasing him westbound. He was captured at South Fruit and Pleasant streets.
“We have him,” the SRO told dispatch.
Murphy notified parents of the lockdown just before 1:30 p.m., saying, “The student has vacated the building, and the police are involved.” At just after 1:45 p.m., she informed parents the school was taken off lockdown status.
Herbert said that anytime administrators find someone unidentified inside the school, “we (err) on the side of caution.” He added, “We will continue to review our CHS safety protocols and ensure the building is a safe place for all students.”
Source : Patch
