St. Thomas, USVI – Responding to a call from Charlotte Amalie High School officials, several police units locked down the learning institute on Friday (Mar. 13) and conducted thorough searches of the facility and students’ bags.

Although neither St. Thomas Deputy Police Chief Dwayne DeGraff nor CAHS principal Carmen Howell gave details as to why the police were summoned, the law officer said it was more a precautionary tactic. It was only reported that there was a possible threat of violence at the high school that may have spilled over from the nearby community.

At about 10 a.m. the students were confined to their classrooms and concerned parents barred from entering the campus during the almost 45-minute operation.

Police Chief DeGraff also informed that the impromptu search team moved to the Ivanna Eudora Kean High School since the men were already mobilized. The principal of that school indicated that there was no threat of danger reported.

The short search operation began at around noon and yielded several knives, drug paraphernalia and pepper spray. The students found in possession of the illegal items were turned over to the school officials.