Suspicious sighting prompts lockout

CLIFTON PARK, N.Y. >> Shenendehowa Central Schools was placed on a roughly hour-long, Monday morning lockout following reports of a suspicious person allegedly carrying a rifle along nearby Route 146.

A passing motorist contacted Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office at 7:42 a.m., after spotting a male dressed all in black, with a camouflage helmet, walking eastbound near Northcrest Drive.

The school campus was immediately placed on lockout, meaning no one inside buildings was allowed to leave. People with proper identification could still enter.

This differs from a lockdown, when no one is allowed in or out.

During the course of an investigation, a separate witness reported seeing a male with a similar description carrying an umbrella in the same vicinity, in the same timeframe.

Sheriff’s Office Capt. Dan Morley said it’s uncertain if the reported sightings were the same person. The subject could not be located and the lockout was removed when it was determined there was no threat.

“We ask people to say something if they see something,” Morley said. “We’re happy this turned out well.”

School district spokesperson Kelly Defeciani said there was no disruption of classes during the incident. Lockouts occur fairly frequently for precautionary reasons whenever there is a perceived threat, she said.