Community

Wheeling Park High School Locked Down While Threat Investigated

WHEELING - A lock down was initiated at Wheeling Park High School Thursday morning after a threat to the school was called in to the Wheeling Police Department.

In the end, officers determined there was no danger at the school.

The telephone threat was made at about 7:45 a.m. Thursday. Ohio County Schools, WPHS and law enforcement officers responded immediately and began an investigation, according to Phillip Stahl, public information officer for the Wheeling Police Department.

"As a precautionary measure, school officials placed the high school on hold while officers conducted a thorough search of the building and surrounding grounds for any potential threat," he said.

Following the completion of the search, the threat was determined to be unsubstantiated. Officers cleared the scene, and normal school operations resumed shortly before 11 a.m.

After law enforcement deemed WPHS safe, the plan was for the school to conduct a normal instructional day for the rest of Thursday, WPHS Principal Meredith Dailer said in a text alert to parents.

In the message, Dailer reported the WPD had made school officials aware shortly after the start of the school day of threats to the safety of the school. WPD and the Ohio County Sheriff's Office worked through individual classrooms to make sure there was no threat, she noted, adding that the threat remains an active investigation with local law enforcement.

"We ask that families take time to emphasize the importance of safety, reporting, and not submitting false reports," Dailer wrote. "We want to thank our local law enforcement again for their rapid response, and as always, we want to thank our community for working through a situation like this with us."

The WPD is continuing to investigate the source of the telephone threat.