Man cited for making threat toward children near West Elementary
The Great Falls Police Department received a report around 2:30 p.m. Nov. 4 of an adult male walking near the playground of West Elementary who had made comments to some parents and staff that he would harm children on the premises if they didn’t lower their volume, according to GFPD.
Lt. Matt Fleming, of GFPD, said that the man then continued to walk through the neighborhood, but left the school premises.
West Elementary went into a shelter-in-place as a precautionary measure while law enforcement responded and searched for the man, who was located, identified and charged with a misdemeanor offense, Fleming said.
“The suspect made no acts of furtherance towards his threats. At this point, this is all we can release about the incident,” Fleming said.
Here’s a brief overview of GFPS safety protocols and more information is available here.
EVACUATION: Defined as an internal emergency that requires students and staff to leave the building for their safety. Parents should follow emergency notifications.
LOCKDOWN: Defined as an internal and/or immediate threat. All staff and students are locked in rooms. No one in or out.
SHELTER-IN-PLACE: Defined as a safety precaution for an external threat that is not an immediate or internal threat.
CLASS HOLD: Defined as a safety precaution implemented during an incident where students need to be kept in the classroom.
RELEASE WITH CARE: Defined as a possible threat in the schools’ neighborhoods during arrival and release time. Release with care procedures.
- To ensure safety, the building administrator may ask staff to escort students to/from buses or waiting cars.
- Staff may also be asked to accompany students home.
