1:40 p.m. Update: Felony police activity near schools ends

Update: Felony police activity near schools ends
- School lockdowns lifted
- School dismissals and after school activities are on normal schedules
- Armed bank robbery suspect in custody

Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2009
Update time: 1:40 p.m.

WALLA WALLA - Terry Heisey from the WW Police Department notified the district they have a suspect in custody from today's armed robbery at the Eastgate branch of American West Bank. School lockdowns as a result of this police activity near district schools have been lifted. School dismissals and school activities are on normal schedules.

"We work closely with law enforcement officials to keep our staff, students and visitors safe," District Communications Director Mark Higgins said. "Whenever there is felony police activity near our schools we take all precautions to follow our emergency procedures and make safety our top priority. We want to thank the City of Walla Walla Police for keeping us in constant contact as we worked through this situation."

This police activity near district schools prompted the following schools to be placed in lockdown. The lockdown has been lifted at the following schools:
- Edison
- Berney
- Sharpstein
- Pioneer

According to Heisey, the bank robbery suspect's vehicle was located in the 600 block of Fern Ave, the location of the registered owner. A subject similar in description to the gunman has been detained without incident from the residence and is currently being interviewed at the WWPD.

SWAT teams surrounded suspect's house for several hours before conducting a complete search as an extra precaution. The area was secured at approximately 1:40 p.m. All streets in the area are now open. The district's emergency procedures are no longer in effect as the situation has been resolved.

Mark Higgins
Communications Director
509.526.6716 (office)
509.520.6242 (cell)
509.529.7713 (fax)
mhiggins@wwps.org
Web: www.wwps.org