Cobalt Institute campus in Victorville placed on lock down Friday
The Cobalt Institute of Math & Science campus was locked down Friday as Victorville Sheriff’s deputies conducted a precautionary search of the school.
The Sheriff’s Department was notified after threatening graffiti was discovered in a campus bathroom, Victor Valley Union High School District officials said.
The 7-12th grade school is in the 1400 block of Topaz Road, south of Palmdale Road and west of Silverado High School, both in the VVUHSD.
Deputies searched the school with a specialized dog and determined that there were no weapons on campus and no threat to students or staff, district officials said.
Victorville Sheriff’s Station spokeswoman Tricia Blake confirmed with the Daily Press that deputies found nothing suspicious.
As a precautionary measure, CIMS staff contacted law enforcement when they found graffiti claiming a threat of gun violence at the school on Friday, District officials said.
Parents and guardians were given the option to pick up their students early from the CIMS campus, while some students chose to remain and finish the school day, the district said.
The students were never in any danger, but VVUHSD officials stressed the importance of taking all potential threats seriously.
“We would like to thank Capt. Wickum’s team at the Victorville Police Department and the SanBernardino County Sheriff’s Department for being such excellent partners when it comes to keeping our students and staff safe,” VVUHSD Superintendent Carl J. Coles said.
Coles said the district takes all threats seriously and they are always striving to improve processes to ensure the safety of all campuses.
“We ask our students, families and staff to always practice ‘if you see something, say something," Coles said. “Thank you to our district community for your continued support.”
Daily Press reporter Rene Ray De La Cruz may be reached at 760-951-6227 or RDeLaCruz@VVDailyPress.com. Follow him on Twitter @DP_ReneDeLaCruz
This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: Cobalt Institute campus in Victorville placed on lock down Friday
