A note threatening the lives of people at Arcadia High School sparked a school-wide lock-down for nearly four hours on Tuesday (Nov. 1). In the end, all students and faculty were dismissed safely and orderly between 2 p.m. – 4 p.m., but not without hours of road closures, many inconveniences and logistical challenges, and strained nerves of students, parents and faculty dealing with uncertainty.
Superintendent Dr. Joel Shawn and Principal David Vannasdall kept parents alerted via recorded telephone blasts and the school web site while police kept the community updated via social media including phone text messages and e-mails.
<Story continues below the following 1-minute 50-second video of activity around the AHS campus during the lock-down…>
Get the Flash Player to see this content. The threat that people would be killed on the school campus was received at the high school at 10:15 a.m. and Arcadia Police were alerted. Students were locked in their classrooms, the cafeteria, and sports buildings shortly before 12 noon while police investigated the threat, including a lead that later sparked a one-hour lock-down at Holly Avenue Elementary school of some parents and teachers after most students had already been dismissed around lunchtime for previously-scheduled parent-student conferences on a minimum day.
Except for those students in the cafeteria when the lock-down began, thousands of other lunches prepared for students were wasted. Some students and faculty had to get creative in finding alternatives to restrooms as the lock-down dragged on. Some veteran teachers who have been through lock-downs in the past said the unusual length of this one became a little unnerving as they began to imagine ominous scenarios.
Outside, Campus Drive was closed from Santa Anita Avenue to El Monte Road, the latter of which was closed from Campus to Duarte Road. As three TV news and police helicopters buzzed in circles incessantly overhead, media and nervous parents began gathering at the locked front gate of the school on Duarte Road about 1:15 p.m., anxiously peering through the gate watching eerily vacant hallways in hope of seeing signs of movement. Some parents began getting comforting cell phone texts and calls from students letting them know they were safe and mostly bored, even while being concerned.
By 2 p.m., the first students and teachers were seen being released from their quarters. The public address system was tested at the football stadium and students were guided to the bleachers in small groups. Those who had their own cars and those who walk home were instructed to exit the campus via Duarte Road. Those to be picked up by parents were instructed to contact their parents and then meet them at Arcadia County Park between Alta and Diamond. That process was complete by 4 p.m.
No arrests were made but police say they are continuing the investigation. No further details were released while the investigation continues.
— By Scott Hettrick