Teacher's military style shovel causes scare at middle school
MERIDIAN, Idaho (KBOI) - Police say a military style shovel caused a scare at Heritage Middle School Thursday morning.
Meridian Police says a teacher was planning a World War II lecture and brought the shovel to school, but left it in their car. The teacher, who has not been identified, asked a student to go to the parking lot, grab the shovel and return to class.
It was at that point when someone saw the student running back to the school with the shovel when police were called. There were many reports that a man went inside the school with an ax.
"I turned on the news and I heard that there was an armed suspect, but I didn't know anything else, so I just came down here and I'm hoping everything is OK," Melissa Veltran, a parent told KBOI 2News during the ordeal.
A total of nine schools were Meridian were affected by the scare -- causing concern for thousands of parents throughout the district.
"My son is texting me and he's pretty scared, " one parent told KBOI 2News at the time.
Meridian Police said earlier that officers conducted a room by room search of Heritage Middle School. Officers were seen around the property with rifles.
Police told KBOI anchor Trina Cobbley that someone was spotted running with an ax at Heritage Middle School.
"They (the teachers) took my son right out of my arms and told me the school was in lockdown," Cobbley said.
Cobbley also has two nephews that go to Heritage.
Police said early on that no students were ever in danger. They identified the student and relayed to parents that everything was OK.
"Your children are all safe," Meridian Deputy Chief Tracy Basterrechea told a crowd of parents.
No charges will be filed against the teacher or the student.
Meridian Police says a teacher was planning a World War II lecture and brought the shovel to school, but left it in their car. The teacher, who has not been identified, asked a student to go to the parking lot, grab the shovel and return to class.
It was at that point when someone saw the student running back to the school with the shovel when police were called. There were many reports that a man went inside the school with an ax.
"I turned on the news and I heard that there was an armed suspect, but I didn't know anything else, so I just came down here and I'm hoping everything is OK," Melissa Veltran, a parent told KBOI 2News during the ordeal.
A total of nine schools were Meridian were affected by the scare -- causing concern for thousands of parents throughout the district.
"My son is texting me and he's pretty scared, " one parent told KBOI 2News at the time.
Meridian Police said earlier that officers conducted a room by room search of Heritage Middle School. Officers were seen around the property with rifles.
Police told KBOI anchor Trina Cobbley that someone was spotted running with an ax at Heritage Middle School.
"They (the teachers) took my son right out of my arms and told me the school was in lockdown," Cobbley said.
Cobbley also has two nephews that go to Heritage.
Police said early on that no students were ever in danger. They identified the student and relayed to parents that everything was OK.
"Your children are all safe," Meridian Deputy Chief Tracy Basterrechea told a crowd of parents.
No charges will be filed against the teacher or the student.
"They (the teachers) took my son right out of my arms and told me the school was in lockdown," Cobbley said. Â
That was the part that should scare all parents.Â
@William Baker The kid wasn't even in the school so what reason was there to take him? Somebody needs to get some answers. Heads should roll over this.
A man or kid with what may or may not be a weapon at one school is no reason to lock down 8 others and block off streets miles away.
There isnt such a thing as a "wasted resource" when people, especially children's lives could be in danger. I feel very blessed that I live in such a town where safety is obviously a priority. Kudos to the police department and first responders for taking no time at all and something should also be said for the staff who took initiative to raise a red flag...Even if it was a misunderstanding.
@C You need professional help. Maybe a long stay in a rubber room would help you reconnect with the real world.
Other news sources reported 4 schools affected. Â Also the original story said the reporter was dropping her child at Discovery Elementary and that is where they took him out of her arms - now the story reads as if the middle school took an older child out of a mother's arms. Â LOL Â I am proud of Prospect Elementary School who kept a calm head and never said lockdown, they acknowledged "shelter in place" which is different. Â Thank you to the school district for responding as you did, even if it was a misunderstanding, I'm glad they work to keep our children safe.
waste of time and resources locking down 9 schools and a bunch of roads over a shovel, this overkill made a lot of us late for work. Whoever called the police needs to get a pair of glasses because a shovel doesn't cause "panic."