Late-Arriving Staples Student Caused 'Shelter In Place' Order: Update

WESTPORT, CT — A late-arriving Staples High School student Thursday morning caused a temporary "shelter in place" order at the school and adjacent Bedford Middle School, because staff did not immediately recognize that he was a student, according to police.

The incident began at about 9 a.m. when the Westport Police Department’s School Security Officer and the Staples School Resource Officer began to investigate a report of a suspicious person on school grounds.

"An unknown male who appeared to be in his teens was dropped off at Bedford Middle School, but the person then left that campus and walked towards Staples High School," police said in a statement. "The incident was deemed suspicious because at the time no one recognized this individual, and it was unknown what he was doing on school property."

Out of an abundance of caution, Schools Superintendent Thomas Scarice placed both Bedford Middle School and Staples High School under shelter in place status, according to police (see the original story below).

"Several patrol officers responded to make sure the students at both schools were kept safe and
to look for this unknown person," police said. "Westport detectives also went to the scene and worked with school officials to attempt to identify the party. It was ultimately determined that the person in question was in fact a Staples student. The student was simply running late and after managing to get a ride to Bedford, he walked over to Staples."

Westport Police Chief Foti Koskinas said that the resolution to the situation "was the best possible outcome." He praised the timely response, which "is a testament to the excellent working relationship that the police department has with the school system."

Original story: A temporary "shelter in place" order was issued for Staples High School and adjacent Bedford Middle School on Thursday morning due to "a potential person on campus that warranted" such action, according to Schools Superintendent Thomas Scarice.

Details about the person were not disclosed, but the order was lifted later in the morning, and students and staff were allowed to return to regular activities.

"Moments ago, as a precaution, and in collaboration with the Westport Police Department, the school district put Staples High School [and] Bedford Middle School in a shelter in place," Scarice wrote just after 10 a.m. The two schools essentially share one large campus on North Avenue in Westport.

"A report came to the district's attention of a potential person on campus that warranted this response," Scarice wrote. "All students and staff are secure, and we will report back to the community when the matter is completely resolved."

Scarice lifted the order just before 11 a.m. Westport police officers had descended on the campus, Scarice said, and checked throughout the schools' grounds.