HOULTON, Maine — Officials locked down Houlton schools on Wednesday morning following a phone threat to the elementary school, according to RSU 29 Superintendent Joe Fagnant.
At 8:10 a.m., the school received a call from an unknown caller threatening to do harm with a firearm, Houlton Chief of Police Tim DeLuca said.
“Immediately, the Houlton Police Department was notified and responded,” DeLuca said. “In discussions with the school administration, all schools were put on lockdown to include the Greater Houlton Christian Academy and Region II.”
The Aroostook County Sheriff’s Office, U.S. Border Patrol and the Maine State Police assisted the Houlton Police Department in checking all schools for threats, providing security and ensuring safety for the children, he said.
According to DeLuca, the Houlton Police Department investigated, and although the Maine State Police Computer Crimes Task Force is still probing the threat, police determined the threat was not credible.
During the incident, police worked closely with school officials, he said.
“While we were in lockdown, law enforcement was carrying out investigations and were also in contact with other communities,” Fagnant said. “Updated information was constantly shared with staff who were doing a fantastic job working with our students.”
As the morning unfolded, school security was continuously monitored. Based on the investigation, police and the school administration reopened schools to normal activities at 9:56 a.m. and law enforcement will remain on scene for the remainder of the day, the superintendent said.
“As with any emergency situation, the RSU 29 safety team will debrief and review what transpired today” he said. We appreciate the patience of our families and communities as we worked through this unfortunate event.”
