UPDATE: Lockdown Lifted at Cheshire Academy

UPDATE, 11 p.m.

The lockdown at Cheshire Academy has been lifted and police said there is no threat to students, faculty or staff and school activities will resume as previously scheduled on Wednesday.

Cheshire Police, in conjunction with the Connecticut State Police, conducted a search of the grounds at Cheshire Academy, including Von der Porten Hall, after a student was reportedly being “suspicious” with a potentially hazardous material.

Police said after the search, the initial information received by Cheshire Academy faculty was deemed credible.

During the search of the school grounds, a liquid believed to be gasoline was located in a wooded area off of the main portion of the campus was located and seized, according to police.

Police said the investigation is ongoing and no further information was immediately available.

UPDATE, 7:15 p.m.

A student alerted Cheshire Academy faculty to the possibility that a hazardous material was on the campus grounds, according to Lt. Jeffrey Sutherland.

Cheshire Academy faculty contacted the Cheshire Police Department and have been working in full cooperation with investigators, including the Emergency Services Unit of the State of Connecticut Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, according to Sutherland.

The Von der Porten Hall at Cheshire Academy, a dormitory building, is in lockdown.

This building has been evacuated and an initial cursory search of each room within the building confirmed the evacuation.

Sutherland said a thorough and methodical search of the building, with emphasis on particular areas and rooms within the building, will be conducted after appropriate Search and Seizure Warrants have been obtained.

The remainder of the school is not in lockdown and there is no immediate threat to students, faculty, and staff, according to Sutherland.

UPDATE, 5 p.m.:

Cheshire Academy reports that one building on campus, the boys’ dormitory of Von der Porten Hall, has been evacuated and is on lockdown.

The school previously posted on its Facebook page that day student parents were welcome to pick up their children via the Route 10 entrance to campus while all boarding students will remain on campus.

Original post

Cheshire Police are investigating a report of a potential hazardous material on the grounds of Cheshire Academy.

Cheshire Police, along with the Cheshire Fire Department and the Emergency Services Unit of the State of Connecticut Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection are currently on scene and working in cooperation with school officials, according to Lt. Jeffrey Sutherland.

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Cheshire Academy school grounds are currently in lockdown.

There is no immediate threat to the safety of school faculty, staff, or students, according to Sutherland.

Cheshire Academy is located on the northeast corner of the intersection of Main St (CT Route 10) and Academy Rd (CT Route 68/70).

This story will be updated when more information is available.