Ventnor School Put on Lockdown After Mental Health Crisis

The Ventnor Community School was put on lockdown Monday afternoon shortly before dismissal when a man in a nearby home had what police described as a mental health crisis.

The decision to shelter the students in place after the normal dismissal time was made when the police learned that the man might have a gun.

Ventnor School Put in Shelter in Place

According to Ventnor Police, at 2:40 pm Monday, Ventnor Police responded to a call on the 400 block of North Lafayette Avenue about a man having a mental health crisis and that he could have a gun.

As the time came close to the 3:15 pm dismissal at Ventnor Community School, the decision was made to hold the students inside until the situation across from the school could be handled safely.

Word spread quickly to parents that there would be a delay in picking up their child after school and the circumstances causing the delay.

Police Made Contact With The Man

In a press release, police say they were able to get the man to talk to them on the phone from inside his residence.

Crisis negotiators from the Ventnor City Police Department made telephonic contact with this individual. After several minutes of speaking to the subject, he exited the residence without further incident. He was later transported to a medical facility for evaluation. Investigation into the matter is ongoing at this time.

The situation necessitated a 45-minute wait after the normal dismissal time until students were released, according to one school parent.

Most parents responding to Facebook posts about how the situation was handled agreed that the children being kept in the school was the safest way to proceed.

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