Marathon Trainer Spurs Jersey Shore School Lockdown: Police

WILDWOOD CREST, NJ — A Wildwood Crest school went into lockdown on Sept. 19 after reports of a "suspicious" man a few blocks away, but he was actually just training for a marathon, police said.

Crest Memorial School was locked down Monday morning "out of an abundance of caution" after a man was seen apparently wearing a bulletproof vest on Pacific Avenue, Wildwood Crest police said. There was no threat to the school, police said.

At first, Wildwood Crest police and other agencies were unable to find the man, police said.

When police were able to identify him, they found out he was not wearing a bulletproof vest, but instead had on a weighted running vest and was training for an upcoming marathon, police said.

"The Administration and faculty at Crest Memorial School followed their safety protocols and all students were safely sheltered until they were reunited with their parents," police said.