Kenosha schools in a ‘security hold’ after a suspicious man tried to go to school

Schools in Kenosha are currently not letting anyone in or out after a man tried to enter a district school with suspicious bags and fled after staff questioned him.

The Kenosha Unified School District this morning placed all of its schools on a secure hold — meaning the schools are operating normally but no one can enter or leave the building — after the incident, said Tanya Ruder, the district’s director of communications. . Kenosha police continue to search for the suspect, who attempted to enter Roosevelt Elementary School.

Ruder said the man only reached the school’s “secure entrance” and did not enter the school.

“We have now arranged everything so that the children and KUSD employees are safe. We don’t even know what was in the bag, so it’s all speculation at this point,” said Kenosha Police Lt. Joshua Hecker. public information officer.

Ruder said they placed all the schools in a secure detention facility, based on guidelines from the Kenosha Police Department.

“At this time, all we know is that someone attempted to enter the building and entered our secure entrance carrying suspicious bags. When approached by staff, they fled into the area,” Ruder said.

The countywide arrest was for security reasons while the man was still wanted by police, Hecker said. He said the department is working with the county, the Kenosha County Sheriff’s Department and the Pleasant Prairie Police Department in the investigation.

In a statement, the Kenosha school district said the sheriff’s department and Pleasant Prairie police were at all county schools assisting with patrols looking for the man.

Frank primary school posted on social media about the incident shortly after noon and said it was canceling the afternoon 4K classes and holding the remaining 4K students. The post stated that the man was trying to get to Roosevelt Elementary School.

“We understand this may cause concern, but we assure you this is being done for the safety of students, staff and families. KUSD works closely with Kenosha Police Department to locate the suspect as quickly as possible,” the school said in its post.

Ruder said the district would provide support, if necessary, to students who are upset after the incident. She had no timeline for ending the security grip on the district’s schools.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call Kenosha police at 262-656-1234.

David Clarey can be reached at [email protected].

This is a current news item and will be updated.

This article originally appeared in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Suspicious man tries to enter Kenosha school, causing school to be ‘securely held’