Local Elementary School Forced to Lock-Down During Police Stand-off
By: Mallory Lane
Updated: October 15, 2012
PLEASANT GAP, CENTRE COUNTY - A police stand-off in Centre County Monday morning forced a local elementary school into lock-down for precautionary measures.
Police say the stand-off began Sunday night around 10:30 and lasted through Monday morning.
Pleasant Gap Elementary School was placed on lock-down as a precautionary measure. Folks around the area say they're just glad everyone is okay.
The apartment complex on Norman Avenue in Spring Township, Centre County is where police say 47-year old John Cleland Garrett Jr. allegedly fired shots during a domestic dispute Monday morning.
"It was real close to the bank," M&T Bank Owner Terry Horner said. "As a matter of fact, it was right down the back of the bank."
Horner says getting the phone call Monday morning of the incident was disheartening.
"Our main concern was we have employees coming in at 8:30 to open up the office," he said. "Our immediate concern is, of course, the safety of those employees."
He says hearing the news of an incident involving a weapon was something all too familiar.
"I've been involved in one of those situations where someone pulls a gun at you and says 'this is a stick-up' and at that time, the individual actually jumped behind the counter and started taking money out of the drawers with a gun in one hand and a bag in the other," Horner said.
Horner says his bank was robbed a little over 20 years ago, and not knowing exactly what was going on Monday, he feared that may be happening again.
"Your immediate concern, again, is to make sure you keep the employees safe and sound and get them out of the office," he said. "The money's not the object, it's the life and their families."
Bellefonte Area School District Superintendent Cheryl Potteiger says that safety concern is what led to a lock-down for Pleasant Gap Elementary School.
"Our biggest concern, even though it wasn't close to the school is the safety of all of our children," Potteiger said. "That's paramount. We just can't be secure enough in my book."
The lock-down was lifted Monday around 12:30. Police say Garrett is in custody at this time and will be charged in connection with the incident.
Police say the stand-off began Sunday night around 10:30 and lasted through Monday morning.
Pleasant Gap Elementary School was placed on lock-down as a precautionary measure. Folks around the area say they're just glad everyone is okay.
The apartment complex on Norman Avenue in Spring Township, Centre County is where police say 47-year old John Cleland Garrett Jr. allegedly fired shots during a domestic dispute Monday morning.
"It was real close to the bank," M&T Bank Owner Terry Horner said. "As a matter of fact, it was right down the back of the bank."
Horner says getting the phone call Monday morning of the incident was disheartening.
"Our main concern was we have employees coming in at 8:30 to open up the office," he said. "Our immediate concern is, of course, the safety of those employees."
He says hearing the news of an incident involving a weapon was something all too familiar.
"I've been involved in one of those situations where someone pulls a gun at you and says 'this is a stick-up' and at that time, the individual actually jumped behind the counter and started taking money out of the drawers with a gun in one hand and a bag in the other," Horner said.
Horner says his bank was robbed a little over 20 years ago, and not knowing exactly what was going on Monday, he feared that may be happening again.
"Your immediate concern, again, is to make sure you keep the employees safe and sound and get them out of the office," he said. "The money's not the object, it's the life and their families."
Bellefonte Area School District Superintendent Cheryl Potteiger says that safety concern is what led to a lock-down for Pleasant Gap Elementary School.
"Our biggest concern, even though it wasn't close to the school is the safety of all of our children," Potteiger said. "That's paramount. We just can't be secure enough in my book."
The lock-down was lifted Monday around 12:30. Police say Garrett is in custody at this time and will be charged in connection with the incident.
