By DENISE KINDER and
MICHELLE FRIEDRICH
Staff Writers
Safety precautions were taken Wednesday at Eugene Field Elementary around 11 a.m. after three students reported suspicious activity outside the fenced playground.
Poplar Bluff R-I Superintendent Dr. Scott Dill said after the students reported what they saw, teachers cleared the playground and contacted the Poplar Bluff Police Department.
"(The teachers) did exactly what they were suppose to do," Dill said.
According to Patrolman Shaun Prenger's report, officers were dispatched around 11 a.m. to the 700 block of Nickey Street in reference to a subject flourishing a weapon.
Once officers arrived on the scene, contact was made with Eugene Field employee, Pamela Heaton.
"She stated that she was advised by three different students that an unknown white male pulled a black pistol out of the right side of his waist band, advising that he was going to shoot them," Prenger wrote in his report.
The report also added the students identified the subject as white male, about 40 years old, with short light brown hair and beard wearing an orange shirt.
"We swarmed the area with extra officers and we had additional officers at the school for the rest of the day and during parent pickup," Deputy Chief Donnie Trout said. "It looks like it was not a weapon, but we're not 100 percent sure. These situations can not be taken lightly."
Once speaking to the three students and their parents, Dill sent a message to all parents of a student at Eugene Field to inform of the situation.
The message let parents know the school was working with the police department and not to come to campus while the investigation was being completed.
"All of our students are safe and they are secure inside the building," the message from Dill said. "At this time we have no reason to believe there is any direct threat to any of the students."
The school was not on a "lock-down," but rather heightened security, Dill said, since school doors remained locked every school day.
In cooperation with the police department, students stayed inside for the remainder of the day to allow officers to do their job.
"Business went on as usual," Dill said. "Teachers were teaching and students were learning."
Dill added he is very thankful for the strong partnership with the Poplar Bluff Police Department.
Officers showed up quickly in appropriate numbers to make sure the children's needs were met and they were safe, he said.
Anyone who lives in a neighborhood with a school should stay off campus unless they have a legitimate reason to be there, Dill said.
If someone is on campus of a school who is not approved, Dill said safety actions will be taken each time.
"I would rather be wrong every time than take a chance," he said. "Student safety is taken very seriously."
Trout added officers never want to discourage children from saying anything if they see something.
"We are going to pull out all the resources to make sure our kids are safe," he said.