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Algona Schools Placed on Lockdown for Several Hours After Threat

(Algona)--Schools in the Algona area were placed on lockdown for about two hours on Wednesday.

 

According to a news release from the city of Algona, at approximately 11:48 a.m. Bishop Garrigan received a phone call from an unidentified male caller from an unknown phone number. The unknown caller said he planned to come to the school with a gun.

The school immediately began lock down procedures at Seton Elementary and the Bishop Garrigan campus. Algona Community Schools also began sheltering in place in all school buildings as a safety precaution. Due to a multi-agency training exercise being held nearby, many additional law enforcement agencies were able to help provide a presence at various school buildings through the community.

 

North Union Schools and West Bend Mallard Schools were not sheltered in place but did have increased officer presence.

 

Shortly before 3:00 p.m., the shelter in place was lifted for Algona Community Schools and Bishop Garrigan Schools. Both schools dismissed at the regular time using normal procedures and held after school activities as scheduled. Classes and activities will be held as scheduled on Thursday.

According to Algona Police Chief Bo Miller, at least one other Iowa school experienced a similar call on Wednesday; that call was later deemed to be a false threat.

Multiple agencies assisted with the incident, including the Kossuth County Sheriff’s Office, Kossuth County Emergency Management, Iowa State Patrol, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Emmet County Sheriff’s Office, Palo Alto County Sheriff’s Office, West Bend Police Department and Emmetsburg Police Department.

Special assistance was also provided by Algona Municipal Utilities.

The threat made to Bishop Garrigan remiains under investigation.


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