This morning, Oct. 24, just before 9:0 am, Mt. Ararat High School in Topsham initiated a “Shelter in Place” protocol based on an anonymous tip.
According to officials the tip was received through the Say Something app and referenced a serious matter involving potential sex trafficking and a violent threat, both of which were unconfirmed.
The threat did not indicate any danger to the school. However, out of an abundance of caution the school went into a shelter in place.
From MSAD 75:
While some elements suggested a possible hoax, our policy is to treat all intelligence as a credible threat until proven otherwise. Our first priority, as always, is the safety and security of our students and staff. The “Shelter in Place” was immediately enacted to create an orderly environment while allowing our administration and the Topsham Police Department (PD) to conduct a thorough sweep of the building and swiftly investigate the credibility of the information received. We are relieved to report that, following rapid and comprehensive collaboration with the Topsham PD, we were able to quickly determine there was no imminent threat to the school community. We maintained a “Shelter in Place” until approximately 10:20 am in order to support our investigation of the matter. We thank the Topsham PD for their immediate and professional response.
Latest Local Eastern & Central Maine News
