Late student triggers police response in Round Lake Beach

A school in Round Lake Beach was locked down Friday morning for what turned out to be a student who was late for class.

Police were called about 8:37 a.m. to Raymond Ellis Elementary School, 720 Central Park Drive, on an employee's report of a suspicious person who had entered the school, bypassed the office and was seen heading toward the classrooms.

The school was immediately locked down and 911 was called as officers from Round Lake Beach, Round Lake, and the Lake County sheriff's office responded to the building. The first officer arrived in less than two minutes, according to Round Lake Beach Deputy Chief Michael Scott.

Several other officers soon arrived and worked with school officials to search each classroom and all other rooms. After watching video, and with the help of school employees, officials determined the person who entered the building was a fifth-grade student who arrived late, and the situation was resolved, Scott said.

Students remained in their classrooms throughout the lock down, which lasted just under an hour from the first unit arriving until police met with the student and confirmed he was subject, he said.

The school and police had a plan in place that allowed the situation to be resolved in a timely manner, Scott added.