FLORA, Ill.—The high school in Flora, Illinois, was placed on soft lockdown today as a precaution when a federal arrest warrant was being served in that town.
According to Flora Police Chief John Nicholson, the students were in no danger, but the soft lockdown was conducted anyway, as the subject—who is known locally to the authorities and “has a tendency to run”—might have bolted in that direction.
Here’s the press release from Nicholson as presented on the department’s Facebook page:
Attention Flora High School Parents: Today at approximately 10:45 a.m., the Flora Police, Clay Co. Sheriff’s Dept. and the U.S. Marshals Office conducted an operation in the 200 block of Park Ave. A wanted subject with a federal arrest warrant and several State warrants was taken into custody after a short foot pursuit. The suspect was taken into custody and transported by the U.S. Marshals to a federal holding center on a charge of Meth Conspiracy/Manufacturing. Knowing that our operation was approximately two blocks from the High School and that the suspect had a habit of running from law enforcement, I contacted the High School principal and asked him to place the school on a “soft” lockdown as we began the operation. When we had the suspect in custody, the high school resumed normal operation. At no time was the high school or its students in any danger, we just felt by doing it this way we were taking extra precaution. I apologize if this upset anybody or caused undue stress. Thanks, Chief Nicholson
Nicholson said that the subject has been transported to the Marion County Jail in Salem, which is an official federal holding facility, and will be transferred from there.
The name of the subject will be released later.
Parents in the school district are lauding Nicholson for taking the precautions that he did, and no one is upset over this soft lockdown, as it’s apparent that Nicholson and his department are always looking out for the best interests of those in the community and especially the children of the community.