Tekoa schools end lockdown

TEKOA — Schools are back to normal after a nearby welfare check between police and a man prompted a lock down this morning.

Whitman County Sheriff Brett Myers said deputies responded approximately 7 a.m. to a call of a man who was walking around disturbed and frustrated.

"It did happen to be around the school," Myers said. "There were some indications that he was carrying a sword."

Myers said the man had not committed a crime and there was no obligation that he come out of his house.

"We did notify the school, so they were aware," Myers said, noting they do that in almost every one of the towns due to everything being close to schools in small towns.

K-6 Principal and Intervention Teacher Jennifer Sperber and Middle/High School Principal Yolanda Bone informed students and families that the lockdown had been lifted around 10 a.m. The lockdown was ordered during the welfare check near the middle/high school campus.

The district’s “working lockdown” was ordered to enhance safety during potential risk, allowing classes to continue, officials said.

“Working lockdowns are part of proactive on how to respond calmly to uncertain situations,” the principals’ wrote in a note distributed to parents.

“It’s always good this day and age when people see something, they say something,” Myers said. “Certainly, someone walking around with a sword.”

Myers encourages everyone to call if something suspicious is happening so that the Sheriff’s Office can at least have a presence and determine what is going on.

“This was more of a mental health related thing,” Myers said, noting there was no direct threats.

“We’ll follow up but there’s really nothing we can do without cooperation of the individual or any other aggravating circumstances,” he said.