Reported stabbing at middle school dance a false alarm

Mar. 5—Officers responded to an alleged stabbing during a dance March 3 at Berg Middle School, but after investigation it was determined to be a false alarm.

Newton Police Department said in a press release that officers were dispatched to the school at 8:27 p.m. on a report there was a student armed with a knife and stabbing people. Police cleared the school and found nobody had a knife or had been stabbed, but they maintained a presence following the incident.

In addition to police officers, deputies from the Jasper County Sheriff's Office and school staff remained on scene to make sure all students were picked up and assured all concerned parties that nobody was hurt.