Bullets found near soccer field trigger school lockdown.

Bullets found near soccer field trigger school lockdown.

PENTWATER – Pentwater Public School was put on lockdown Thursday morning, Sept. 17, after police found bullets in a magazine on Park Street in front of the soccer fields, according to Superintendent Scott Karapatian.

“At 9:49 a.m. today, Pentwater Police Department was dispatched to a report of a loaded pistol magazine being found on Park Street near the Pentwater school parking lot,” said Pentwater Police Chief Laude Hartrum in a press release. “The magazine contained 9 mm ammunition. Pentwater Police Department contacted the Pentwater school officials to report the incident and the school was placed in a ‘soft lockdown.’

“Additional law enforcement personnel were requested to assist in securing the area,” said Chief Hartrum. “An MSP canine unit was requested to assist in the search. Units from the Oceana County Sheriff’s Office, Michigan State Police, and the Hart Police Department responded and assisted in securing the property.

“At 11:15 a.m., the school was moved into a ‘hard lockdown,'” the chief said. “This was done to stop students from leaving their classrooms while a search was conducted. At 11:28 a.m., law enforcement and school staff began a hard search of the school.

Officials searched backpacks and school lockers, Hartrum said. The search was completed around noon.

“No firearms or ammunition were located during the search,” the chief said. “A search of the school parking lots revealed no firearms or ammunition. Shortly after 12:10 p.m., the scene was released back to the school. Pentwater Police Department will be continuing the investigation.”

“The school district and the police conducted a quick canine search to ensure that there was not a weapon on school property,” states Superintendent Karaptian in a press release. “We conducted a lockdown to keep students and staff in the building and in their classrooms until the search was completed. The search did not yield any weapons. We do not believe any student was in danger at any time. We are cooperating with law enforcement as they investigate this matter.”

The Pentwater Police Department was assisted at the scene by the Oceana County Sheriff’s Office, Michigan State Police and the Hart Police Department.

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