East Buchanan on Lockdown Briefly Thursday

East Buchanan was on lockdown for a short time Thursday morning.

The Buchanan County Sheriff’s Office says they received a call around 9:45 am from the East Buchanan County School District in Winthrop, reporting that a man was upset with school administration following a phone conversation. The man reportedly made threatening comments specifically directed to a school administrator. 

Though his comments did not involve any other staff or students, the school was put into lockdown for everyone’s safety around 9:45 am and the school district called the Sheriff’s Office. Deputies responded and initiated an investigation. 

The man did not physically go to East Buchanan schools. He was later located at a home in the 700 block of 6th Street Northeast in Independence, where he was taken into custody without incident. 

The man has been identified as 28-year old James Michael Toms of Independence. He has been charged with one count of Harassment. 

The lockdown at East Buchanan was lifted around 10:30 am. The Sheriff’s Office says at this time, there is no active threat to the staff, students or public.

photo courtesy of Buchanan County Sheriff’s Office/FB