12:30 p.m. Update - Felony police activity near schools prompts emergency procedures

Felony police activity near schools prompts emergency procedures

Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2009 / Time: 12 NOON

WALLA WALLA - Terry Heisey from the WW Police Department called this school district this morning to report an armed bank robbery in the Eastgate area. They have a house on the 600 block of Fern surrounded and are blocking the streets in this area. Two people from this residence have been taken into custody as the investigation continues.

Heisey reported during a call to the school district at they are planning to do a SWAT entry into the home and the area is expected to be blocked off for at least two hours. They want to make sure no one else is in the home. A strong police presence is in this area.

The district is following its emergency procedures for felony police activity near schools.

The following schools have been put in Lockdown:

- Edison

- Berney

- Sharpstein

- Pioneer

No school bus service is being offered in these areas until the felony police activity has been lifted. Support staff members are not being allowed to go into these areas until further notice.

Parents are asked to stay out of the area until this situation is resolved. The children are safe in the schools and the police have the area under control.

School dismissal procedures and after school activities and transportation at the schools in lockdown could be impacted, but no decisions have been made at this time.

Mark Higgins

Communications Director

509.526.6716 (office)

509.520.6242 (cell)

509.529.7713 (fax)

mhiggins@wwps.org

Web: www.wwps.org