A nearly 12-hour standoff at Olive Middle School in Baldwin Park, ended on Thursday after a school employee barricaded herself in an office. The incident prompted the evacuation of students and staff and led to the cancellation of classes on Friday.
The Baldwin Park Police Department responded to the school around 9:45 a.m. after reports of a disturbance caused by a female staff member, who was reportedly disgruntled. According to FOX 11, the employee locked herself in a room and refused to come out, although she was not armed. The standoff drew a heavy police presence, including SWAT teams, and images showed multiple patrol vehicles and an ambulance at the scene.
During the standoff, students were evacuated to Walnut Elementary School, where parents picked them up. The Baldwin Park Unified School District stated that the safety of students and staff was their top priority, expressing gratitude to law enforcement for their swift response. The district advised the public to avoid the area until the situation was resolved.
By 8 p.m., the employee was still barricaded inside, with her husband working with authorities to reach a peaceful resolution. The standoff concluded around 9:30 p.m. when the employee was taken into custody and transported to the hospital. The identity of the staff member has not been released, but students suggested she was a teacher who had posted concerning messages on social media.
Classes at Olive Middle School were canceled for Friday, but other schools in the district will operate as usual. The district continues to work with law enforcement to secure the campus and ensure the safety of all involved.
Recent Comments