Phone hoax leads to search of Alexandria high school

ALEXANDRIA, Ind. — A phone call to Madison County 911 dispatchers Monday morning falsely indicated an "active threat" was taking place at Alexandria-Monroe Junior/Senior High School.

The bogus call resulted in a search of the school by authorities and the early dismissal of students.

Shortly after 10 a.m., dispatchers received a call from a person claiming to be an employee of the school who indicated a dangerous situation had developed there,

"This type of threat generated an immediate and massive response from law enforcement agencies within Madison County and also surrounding counties," according to a release from Indiana State Police.

The high school was placed on lockdown while officers "secured and searched" the building, the release said. Those officers determined there was "no active threat or any students injured,"

Students were transported by bus to Alexandria Baptist Church, 2107 S. Park Ave., where they were reunited with family members, according to state police.

State troopers and officers with other agencies throughout the area had arrived at the school to assist Alexandria officers and Madison County deputies.

Perceived threats directed at a school or its students "will be investigated with utmost urgency," the ISP release said.

Anyone with information on Monday's events is asked to call the ISP post in Pendleton at 765-778-2121. The investigation is ongoing.

Alexandria is located about 10 miles north of Anderson — and 20 miles northwest of Muncie — in Madison County.

Douglas Walker is a news reporter at The Star Press. Contact him at 765-213-5851 or at dwalker@muncie.gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Muncie Star Press: After call, search of Alexandria school turns up no evidence of gunman