Crime & Safety
Erial Elementary Placed on Lockout After Suspicious Man Reported in Area
It was the third Gloucester Township school in three days to be placed under a lockout. There was no threat to the children in any incident.
For the third time in three days, a Gloucester Township school has been placed under a lockout, and the Township Police Department determined there was no threat.
On Thursday at 1:28 p.m., Erial Elementary School at Essex Avenue was placed under a lockout after school officials saw a suspicious man who appeared to be intoxicated walking on the outdoor field of the school.
A lockout is a procedure that secures the building perimeter from an external threat, while normal school activities occur inside the school.
Police officers responded for an investigation and located the man about three blocks from the school. They determined he was not a threat to the children and they were never in danger, and the lockout was lifted after 20 minutes.
On Wednesday, there was a lockout at James W. Lilley Elementary School after officials mistook nearby construction noise for possible gunshots.
On Tuesday, there was a lockout at Chews Elementary School after school officials reported a teenager shooting a BB gun in a nearby backyard.
In each incident, police determined the children were never in danger.
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