Home › News › Local News
2 high schools locked down while police pursue man
STORY TOOLS 
More from Local NewsSanta Paula High School and the adjacent Renaissance High School were briefly locked down Thursday while police pursued a man in the area around the campuses.
High school administrators initiated the lockdown about 11:30 a.m., after police said they were chasing a possibly armed man in the neighborhood, said David Gomez, superintendent of Santa Paula Union High School District.
During the lockdown, students were kept inside classrooms with the doors locked, Gomez said.
Retired Santa Paula Police Chief Walter Adair, who said he witnessed the man driving through red lights with a damaged vehicle, initiated the chase, according to police.
The man stopped at a residence on Blanchard Street, where he left the vehicle and jumped a nearby fence, eluding Adair.
The man's vehicle was impounded, and police said they expect to take the man into custody soon.
The lockdown was called off about 12:30 p.m., and school went on as usual, school officials said.
Santa Paula High School is located on the 400 block of Sixth Street. Renaissance High School is in the 300 block of North Palm Avenue.
Posted by AnnaWhaat on September 21, 2007 at 6:12 a.m. (Suggest removal)
They'll catch him if they have his car. Unless he stole it.....
Posted by res1q7et on September 21, 2007 at 9:44 a.m. (Suggest removal)
So, the bad guy wasn't caught, but the lockdown was lifted? Not too long ago, there was a search for an armed felon which caused Mckevett elementary to be locked down. They didn't catch the bad guy then either, but they lifted the lockdown. Why is it safe enough to lift a lockdown when the bad guy is still on the loose?
Posted by Jose6212002 on September 21, 2007 at 12:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)
res1q7et, what do you want, you want the kids to be locked down for days until they catch the bad guy, IM sure they felt the area was afe enough to let the kids out..
Posted by res1q7et on September 21, 2007 at 3:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)
no Jose, I don't want the kids locked up all of the time. My concern is for the safety of the kids. If the police are unable to locate an armed suspect (last seen in the vicinity of a school), why is it safe enough to lift a lockdown? Do you want your kids playing on the playground when someone dangerous is on the loose???
Posted by ironwoman on September 22, 2007 at 9:25 a.m. (Suggest removal)
res1q7et- I am sure the Police can assess the situation as best as possible and make a determination to the best of their knowledge. Remember, they participate in a lengthy academy to be a police officer, attend trainings to deal with such situations, and have experience with criminals. We have to have some trust in our law enforcement.
Posted by Jose6212002 on September 22, 2007 at 9:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)
that was my point wonderwoman, thanks.. Im sure the police felt it was safe enough to let the kids out..
(Requires free registration.)
Article discussions on this site are to support community debates of issues related to our stories and editorials.
Discussions should not stray from the subject of the story or editorial.
We do not allow the following:
We reserve the right to delete threads and/or ban users for these or other reasons we deem necessary.
Opinions are the sole responsibility of the person posting them. You agree not to post comments that are off topic, defamatory, obscene, abusive, threatening or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be banned. Click here for our full user agreement.