Lockout lifted at Shenendehowa schools after Monday morning police response

CLIFTON PARK – A lockout at Shenendehowa schools, put in place Monday morning after a sighting of a man walking along Route 146 with a rifle, was lifted after a police response, officials said.

Police responded to the Shenendehowa Central School District Campus after the report, Saratoga County Sheriff’s officials said.

The initial call came in at 7:42 a.m. for a man dressed in all black wearing a camouflage helmet and carrying a rifle walking east near Northcrest Drive, officials said later.

Deputies looked for the man and did not find him. They did find a separate witness who reported seeing a man with a similar description in the same time frame and location carrying what that witness described as an umbrella, officials said.

Deputies ultimately determined the initial report to be unfounded, officials said.

The initial lockout meant no one could enter the schools, but classes went on as scheduled, officials said.

Deputies were expected to remain at the district throughout the day, as well as patrolling, school officials said.

“We have been notified by the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Department that the lock out can be lifted,” the district wrote on Twitter. “However, (the sheriff’s deputies) will remain a presence on campus throughout the day as a precaution.”

In their own follow-up tweet, the sheriff’s department noted that school resource officers will be present inside the schools “as they are each day and additional patrols will be on campus throughout the day as a precaution.”

The department described the initial police presence at the district as large.

“No threat to the school and no additional sightings,” the sheriff’s office wrote in the initial report. “Sheriff Patrols at each school and patrolling the area.”

The sheriff’s office also noted the sighting report and response were both important, even with the outcome.

“As a reminder, even though nothing was found, if you see something that you feel is suspicious, report it right away,” the sheriff’s office wrote. “We would rather investigate and find that nothing is wrong than not know until it is to late.”

We have been notified by the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Department that the lock out can be lifted. However, they will remain a presence on campus throughout the day as a precaution.

— Shenendehowa CSD (@ShenNews) May 20, 2019

Large police presence on Shenendehowa campus due to a single sighting of a man walking on Rte 146 with a rifle. No threat to the school and no additional sightings. Sheriff Patrols at each school and patrolling the area. Schools in Lock-Out and classes in progress as scheduled.

— Saratoga Co. Sheriff (@SaratogaSheriff) May 20, 2019

As a reminder, even though nothing was found, if you see something that you feel is suspicious, report it right away. We would rather investigate and find that nothing is wrong than not know until it is to late.

— Saratoga Co. Sheriff (@SaratogaSheriff) May 20, 2019