GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - Two men are in police custody after one tried to enter the Gerald R. Ford Academic Center this morning.
The incident occurred just before 9:30 a.m., Wednesday, April 25, across the street from the school located near Franklin Street and Madison Avenue in Grand Rapids.
The two men were fighting outside a nearby home when one of them appeared to brandish a weapon. That's when the other ran away and tried to enter the school but the doors were locked. The school then called police who arrived almost immediately and went into lockdown.
"Our schools do a really good job of following procedure, they went into immediate lockdown regardless of whether it affected them or not for the safety of the children," Grand Rapids Police Captain Vincent Reilly said.
The men ran into a nearby home when police arrived. After a short, peaceful standoff, both were arrested. No gun was found -- only a blunt object, possibly a pipe or table leg.
John Helmholdt with Grand Rapids Public Schools stressed that this is a neighborhood incident unrelated to the school and school staff responded appropriately. The lockdown was lifted shortly after 10 a.m.
"We executed our security protocol to a 'T,' and again our staff is really to be commended, they took quick and decisive action they made sure our students and our staff were safe and secure," Helmholdt said.
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