Meridian Elementary School students were told to stay in their classrooms -– on what’s termed “shelter-in-place” -— around noon Tuesday as police investigated an incident involving a pedestrian threatening a driver.
It happened near the intersection of NW First and Washington Streets, according to Meridian Deputy Police Chief Tracy Basterrechea.
Witnesses say the unidentified man was, for some reason, walking in traffic when he was almost hit by a driver. The man, who witnesses say was wielding a knife, then verbally threatened the driver.
The suspect was still at the scene when officers arrived.
Police are questioning the suspect and searching for the knife.
The school was in shelter-in-place for only about ten minutes as a precautionary measure, Basterrechea said.
“Shelter-in-place means students are brought into their classrooms and all exterior doors are locked,” explained West Ada School District spokesman Eric Exline. “Classes operated as normal.”
