STAR, Idaho — Editor's note: A previous version of the story incorrectly characterized the school response as "temporary lockdown." The school was, in fact, placed in "hall check," which is when students return to classrooms, follow instructions, do not open doors but continue class. More about the difference in responses is included in this updated version of the story below.
An arrest in close proximity to Star Elementary put the school into a temporarily hall check Tuesday afternoon as officers and deputies with the Ada County Sheriff's Office and Star Police attempted to bring a "dangerous and potentially armed" suspect into custody.
According to Star Mayor Trevor Chadwick, deputies with the Ada County Sheriff's Office were in the processing of issuing a warrant for the suspect, when the individual left their home.
An officer with Star Police saw the suspect and pulled them over before a warrant was served.
Chadwick said the officer pulled the suspect over "within close proximity" of the elementary school, forcing officials to put the school into hall check "out of an abundance of caution."
The suspect is now in custody and the school is not on hall check, and was never on lockdown, which is a different type of response. Also, no children were harmed or were "ever in harm's way," Chadwick said in a Twitter thread.
"I want to thank our Star Police Officers for their quick work in apprehending this individual and making sure Star remains a safe place to live," Chadwick said.
Hall check, as stated in Idaho Standard Command Responses for Schools, is "when students return to the classroom, follow instructions, do not open the door, and continue class," West Ada School District Chief of Staff Niki Scheppers said in an email to KTVB.
In lockdown, students are instructed to move away from sight, maintain silence and not open the door. Teachers lock interior doors, turn classroom lights off, maintain silence and consider protective actions under a "move, secure, defend" model. Again, hall check -- not lockdown -- was the precaution taken Tuesday.
Emergency instructions for hall check, lockdown, evacuation and reverse evacuation are outlined in this poster made for Idaho classrooms.
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