Feb 15, 2022

2 McPherson schools briefly locked down during welfare check; no taser used

Posted Feb 15, 2022 6:50 PM

By SALINA POST

MCPHERSON - McPherson Middle School and Washington Elementary School were on a brief lockdown this morning while police detained someone for a welfare check.

At 10:20 a.m. Tuesday, McPherson police were sent to check on an individual reported to be experiencing a mental health crisis outside McPherson Middle School, the McPherson Police Department noted in a news release on its Facebook page early this afternoon.

"For the safety of Middle School and Washington Elementary School students and staff, the schools were put on a soft lock down," the department reported.

The lockdown only lasted 10-15 minutes while officers physically detained the person. A taser was not deployed to subdue the person.

"Unfortunately, false information regarding a taser or tasers being used to subdue the subject is circulating through the rumor mill. Officers did not deploy a taser during this incident," the department noted in the news release.