By John Raffel
Correspondent
EVART – On Thursday March 16, Evart High School Staff were made aware of a threat involving a weapon in the building around 10:30 a.m. The school was placed in lock down per its policy.
“The subject was immediately isolated from the rest of the students,” the Osceola County sheriff’s department said. School Resource Officer Douglas along with officers from the Evart Police Department, Osceola County Sheriff’s Office and Michigan State Police responded. Using security cameras, officers were able to track the student’s movements and conduct systematic searches of the building to ensure the building was safe.
“Once the search was complete, the building was placed into secure mode while the investigation continued. The building resumed normal activities once law enforcement concluded their on campus investigation and it was determined there was no weapon.”
Evart principal Jessica Kolenda made this statement:
“Evart High School is extremely grateful for all of the cooperation and quick responses of everyone who assisted today. We take threats very seriously and have several procedures in place that we always follow with fidelity.
“We want to assure everyone that our first priority in an emergency situation is to ensure that our students are safe and secure. We have, and will continue, to make “in the moment” decisions that prioritize safety. We will continue to do our best to communicate appropriately and as quickly as possible. The best way for parents/guardians and community members to stay informed is to join our REMIND. If you need directions on how to do so please look on our website, our facebook page, or our handbook.”
The Osceola County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by Evart Public Schools; Evart police department, Michigan State Police, Osceola County EMS and Meceola Central Dispatch.