Wausau Police Department. Image courtesy: WAOW TV
WAUSAU, WI (WSAU) — An incident involving Wausau Police and a vehicle they were attempting to pull over prompted a nearby school to go into soft lockdown on Monday.
Wausau Patrol Captain Ben Graham says it all started when police attempted to pull over a vehicle on East Wausau Avenue at 11 AM. The vehicle took off, and officers declined to chase it.
“Shortly after attempting that stop they found the vehicle abandoned at the end of Coates Lane,” said Graham.
Because of the proximity of the vehicle and Horace Mann Middle School, Graham said they decide to put the building in soft lockdown. “At about 11:24 AM the suspect that was driving that vehicle was located in the 3300 block of N 13th Street in the area of Sylvan Hill.
“It was just a precaution,” Graham added, noting that no students were ever in any real danger.
Graham wouldn’t comment about what initially lead officers to attempt the stop, or what charges the arrested individual may face.
He credits the School Resource Officer at Horace Mann for communicating with officers and school officials to make sure everyone stayed out of harm’s way at the building. “He was able to provide information to staff, provide them with some guidance based upon the activity that was happening near the school.”
It’s the second time in a matter of days that a Wausau school has gone into soft lockdown mode. On Friday West High School was in a soft lockdown for about an hour while officers investigated a report of a student who had brought a handgun to school in their backpack. An unloaded pistol was found, and the student was taken into custody without incident. School officials emphasized that the student did not have any ammunition on them.
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