A man and a woman are now in custody after the Melba Elementary School and Melba High School were placed on lock-out status (also known as a soft lockdown) Wednesday morning, following reports of a suspicious person near the schools.
Police were looking for Justin Scott Edde, 26. Authorities say there are outstanding warrants for his arrest. Edde was taken into custody in Melba late Wednesday afternoon, according to Canyon County spokesman Joe Decker.
During the incident, deputies arrested Payge Gilmore, 23, from Melba, on five outstanding warrants. “She was found in one of the houses the deputies were searching,” said Decker. There appears to be no connection between Gilmore and Edde.
As word spread of the suspicious person, a text alert was sent to parents and the media about 8:15 a.m. It read: “Students are all in classes, but no one will be entering or exiting the schools at this time.”
“A lockout means we secure the perimeter of the building, but continue business as usual inside. Teachers are still teaching. However, no one is allowed to enter or exit the building,” Melba Elementary Principal Sherry Ann Adams explained.
A lockdown, on the other hand, is defined as a situation where “we lock everyone inside the most secure location, shut out lights and remain silent (essentially hiding as much as possible),” she added.
Canyon County Sheriff’s Office deputies searched neighborhoods near the schools, said Decker.
The Sheriff’s Office had a School Resource Officer on site for most of Wednesday. The lockout was lifted about 3:45 p.m.
