HOUSTON – Authorities have a man in handcuffs after a lengthy chase Tuesday with police where at some point, he broke into The Parish School in northwest Houston, prompting a campus lockdown.
Details are limited, as it’s an active scene, but according to the Houston Police Department, the initial call came as a burglary at a home near the school in northwest Houston. When officers arrived, the unidentified burglar ran away, so a chase began.
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During the pursuit, officers said the man broke inside The Parish School, a private elementary school for children with special needs, located on Hammerly Blvd in Spring Branch. The school alerted authorities, but they were already inside looking for him.
The campus went on lockdown during the search and police managed to find him in the school’s library, where he was taken into custody. Fortunately, officials say no one was injured except the suspected burglar, who had scars he may have gotten when he was breaking into the school.
The Parish School released a statement on the incident.
The Parish School wishes to inform the community about an incident that occurred today at 10:30 a.m. We want to reassure everyone that all students and staff are safe.
Our campus was briefly placed on lockdown for approximately 15 minutes due to an unarmed individual entering the premises, prompting an immediate implementation of lockdown procedures. Law enforcement authorities were immediately notified and arrived on campus where the individual was apprehended without incident. We are thoroughly reviewing the situation to ensure the continued safety and security of our campus.
The Parish School has a stringent training policy in place for situations like these, and the training kept our community safe. We commend our staff members for their swift and effective response during this incident. The safety and well-being of our students and staff are always our utmost priority. We are committed to providing all students and teachers with the necessary support and resources during this time.
The Parish School in Houston is a school for children aged 2-12 who have communication delays and learning differences.