Middle school lockdown lifted after 'suspicious note' found not to be a threat
INDIAN RIVER COUNTY - A "suspicious letter" found at a middle school led to a roughly two-hour security lock down and a law enforcement search.
A note that a law enforcement official said hinted at a possible "bomb on campus" was determined to be an unfounded threat and likely an "old note" left at Storm Grove Middle School lockers and discovered Wednesday.
"A note was found ... stuck in between one of the lockers and the note said, 'read me,'" said Indian River County Sheriff's Office Sgt. Kevin Jaworski.
After a student reported the note, Jaworski said there was a "precautionary search of campus" and "slight increase" in law enforcement.
The school was placed under a code yellow lock down and the students were instructed to shelter in place inside classrooms from roughly 10 a.m. to 11:45 a.m., at which time the security status was lifted, he said.
Several days of school surveillance camera footage were reviewed and after no one was seen placing the note, Jaworski said it was determined the letter had been left between school lockers some time ago.
He said students were unaware of the reason for the lockdown. But during the code yellow, a student mentioned to another that it probably was over a note she had written. That tip was passed up to administrators and deputies.
"That’s what led to us locating that student as a person of interest," Jaworski said.
He said the identity of the student would not be disclosed, but the girl was removed from class during the lockdown.
She was held by law enforcement officers and was being questioned by detectives and school district officials to determine if there would be any criminal charges, Jaworski said.
He said it was unclear when the note was placed, “but obviously the student did at some point.”
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Corey Arwood is a breaking news reporter for TCPalm. Follow @coreyarwood on X, email corey.arwood@tcpalm.com or call 772-978-2246.
This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: School searched, no threat found after discovery of suspicious note
