Laguna Niguel School Responds To OCSD "Duke" Flyover with Lockdown

LAGUNA NIGUEL, CA — It was a morning like any other at Laguna Niguel's Moulton Elementary School on Tuesday at approximately 10 a.m. when an observed circling helicopter

When the Orange County Sheriff's Department helicopter known as "Duke" flew low near the school, calling to someone to stop, principal Jackie Campbell made the command decision to put the school on lockdown.

"We heard the helicopter and made the decision to lockdown the school until we learned what was going on," Campbell said. "We have lockdown drills all of the time, and methods of conducting roll and making sure all students are accounted for."

Parents received an email from the school saying that there was police helicopter activity and that lockdown mode was initiated. Learning no threat to the school was in place, school returned to normal a short time later.

At the time of the lockdown, Orange County Sheriff's Department helicopter "Duke" officers were seeking a missing adult suffering from Alzheimer's, according to OCSD Officer Lane Lagaret.

"This was the second time that the woman was missing from her residence," Lagaret said. "She was found and taken home."

OCSD was not aware that the school had placed themselves on lockdown.

"It was great observation by the school to make that decision," Lagaret said. "It's never a bad idea when you aren't certain of what is going on."

OCSD photo