(UPDATE, 2:25 pm) Two people have been taken into custody following a disturbance that happened last night and resulted in today's search warrant and arrest warrant.
The GFPD says that there were no injuries to the suspects or to any officers.
Officers will remain on scene for a while to continue executing the search warrant.
The two schools have resumed normal operations.
We will update you if we get more information.
(1st REPORT) The Great Falls Police Department said in a news release just after 1 p.m. that officers are "working an incident" in the 1000 block of Fifth Avenue South.
The GFPD says that the Central Montana High-Risk Unit has been activated to serve a warrant. The team is comprised of GFPD officers and Cascade County Sheriff's deputies.
As a precaution, Longfellow Elementary School and St. Patrick's Academy West (formerly Our Lady of Lourdes) have implemented "shelter-in-place" procedures.
"Shelter in place" is defined by GFPS as a safety precaution for an external threat that is not an immediate or internal threat. There are no indications that any students are in danger.
The GFPD said the incident is not happening on the campus of either school, and the shelter procedures are only a precaution.
In addition, several neighboring residents have been asked to evacuate their homes.
They ask that if you must travel in this neighborhood, please use Sixth Avenue South or Ninth Street South.
No other details have been released at this point. We will update you as we get more information.
GFPS safety procedures:
- Evacuation: Defined as an internal emergency that requires students and staff to leave the building for their safety. Parents should follow emergency notifications.
- Lockdown: Defined as an internal and/or immediate threat. All staff and students are locked in rooms. No one IN or OUT!
- Shelter In Place: Defined as a safety precaution for an external threat that is not an immediate or internal threat.
- Class Hold: Defined as a safety precaution implemented during an incident where students need to be kept in the classroom.
- Release with Care: Defined as a possible threat in the schools’ neighborhoods during arrival and release time. Release with care procedures:
- To ensure safety, the building administrator may ask staff to escort students to/from buses or waiting cars.
- Staff may also be asked to accompany students home.
Student safety: walking to/from school
- Students should walk in groups or pairs
- Students should travel on a designated route, and parents should know the route their student is taking
- Students should check in with a responsible individual when they arrive at home
- Students should be taught to always be aware of their surroundings
- Students should avoid alleys on their designated route to/from school
- Students should walk on designated sidewalks and in well-lit areas
- Parents should notify the school when after-school procedures change
Click here to visit the Safety page on the GFPS website for more information.
