Shoreline police search Ridgecrest area after report of man with gun

From the Shoreline Police

At 1:15 pm today (Friday, March 15, 2013) we had a report of a distraught man walking with a handgun in the area of NE 175th St (south side) eastbound from 5th Ave NE. There was about a 10 minute delay from the witness sighting to the call to 911. We immediately dispatched our deputies to the area and did a thorough check. As a precaution, we advised Ridgecrest Elementary and they chose to lock down. We received only one report of this man with a gun. After looking for approximately 30 minutes and not locating the subject, we advised the school that the area was clear and they lifted the lockdown. We had a unit at the school during the entire lockdown.

Part of a letter to Ridgecrest Elementary families from principal Cinco Delgado

"A lockout is defined as a situation where there is an external threat or hazard outside the school building. This means we quickly get students and staff into the building and lock all exterior doors, lock classroom doors, close classroom exterior blinds, account for our students, communicate with the appropriate people and agencies, increase our situational awareness, and conduct business as usual. The lockout lasted approximately 10 minutes, at which time the police notified us that we could lift the lockout. 

"Please know that the students, staff and community members did a great job during this incident. Again, as you know, the safety of our students is paramount at all times."