Waimea school locked down Tuesday

Approximately 600 Waimea Elementary School students on Tuesday spent an hour locked in classrooms after a man allegedly stole a vehicle in the downtown Waimea area and subsequently entered the school’s grounds.

Waimea Elementary School Principal Marcella McClelland confirmed Thursday the campuswide security lockdown was in place between 10:15 and 11:15 a.m. Tuesday while police investigated an incident involving a stolen vehicle and a man possibly entering the school grounds.

Waimea Police Sgt. Richard Toledo said the lockdown was ordered when police received a report of a man, who is believed to have stolen a vehicle in the Waimea area, ran onto the school campus. No injuries were reported, he confirmed.

Toledo said the man left the campus “quickly” and police were unable to apprehend him. He remains at large.

West Hawaii Today learned of the incident after receiving an electronic letter submitted by a concerned parent of several students at the school.

McClelland said the lockdown went smoothly. She noted specifically all students, even preschool students playing on fields at the time, quickly stopped their activities, entered lockdown and waited for the all-clear from police, which came about 11:15 a.m. She also commended teachers and staff for their quick response.

An automated phone message was made that evening to each student’s household informing parents and guardians of the incident, McClelland said. In hindsight, McClelland said she should have sent letters home with each of the students, but she ran out of time before the school day ended.

The school will review the incident to determine if improvements can be made to its lockdown protocol, McClelland added.