The Joplin Globe, Joplin, MO

Crime & Courts

Discussion

October 10, 2012

Joplin man questioned about alleged threats; schools’ lockout lifted

By Emily Younker news@joplinglobe.com

JOPLIN, Mo. — A 21-year-old Joplin man was in custody Wednesday in connection with a report of potential threats against children, Joplin police Lt. Darren Gallup said.

The alleged threats had led Superintendent C.J. Huff to implement a lockout at all Joplin public schools for about an hour and a half Wednesday afternoon.

Gallup declined to comment on the type or content of threats that were made. He said the Police Department had been notified of the alleged threats on Tuesday.

“We’re not necessarily commenting on the origin of the threat and the exact threat because it’s still under investigation,” he said. “Our primary concern obviously was the safety of the schoolchildren, and we wanted to act appropriately to ensure that safety, so we want to investigate it as fully as possible.”

Late Wednesday afternoon, police were interviewing the man in custody, but no charge had been filed. Gallup said police also were following up on leads. The man had been arrested, but police were not releasing his name.

Huff said police did not think there had been an immediate threat to Joplin schools, but because the individual had not been located by midday Wednesday, he authorized the lockout procedure as a precaution.

He said faculty and staff members had been given a description of the individual from police. As part of the school district’s lockout procedure, which was put into effect at about 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, all doors were kept locked, with visitors allowed inside only if someone let them in, and all students were kept inside, Huff said.

The school day continued as normal for students inside their buildings during this time, and all normal operations resumed by about 2 p.m., he said.



Safety first

“GIVEN THE NATURE of the statements and the fact that they were unable to immediately locate the individual ... we thought better safe than sorry,” Superintendent C.J. Huff said of the decision to impose the lockout.

Text Only
Crime & Courts
Local News

Sports

Facebook
Poll

Parents could give up their babies without legal consequences up to 45 days after birth under a bill sent to Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon. The “safe harbor” extension from five days to 45 days could prevent child abuse, say supporters. Should Nixon sign the bill?

Yes.
No.
     View Results
Twitter Updates
Follow us on twitter
Follow me on Twitter
May 2011 Joplin tornado

NDN Video
Probe Begins After Conn. Commuter Trains Crash NTSB Begins Investigation Into Conn. Train Crash Lotto Fever Sweeps the Country Conn. Commuter Trains Collide; 60 Go to Hospital Coffee Run Leads to Hatchet Hitchhiker Arrest Fmr. IRS Head Insists No Politics in Targeting CDC: Fecal Bacteria Common in Swimming Pools $1 Million in Jewels Stolen at Cannes Film Fest NM Mom Chases Down Child Abductor Raw: Crash Sends Car Into Fla. Pool Raw: Obama Sits Down With Elementary Kids Raw: Bear Falls From Tampa Tree Ousted IRS Chief: Errors Not Caused by Politics Terror Suspect Due in Court in Idaho Friday Raw: Driver Ejected From Truck, Over Bridge Could Tobacco Be the Next Biofuel? Wash. State Releases Draft Rules for Legal Pot Dying Man's Blinks Lead to Murder Conviction Officials: Texas Tornado Likely Had 200 Mph Wind Brothers Arrested in NOLA Parade Shooting