Independence Schools Enter ‘Secure Door Status’ Due to Suspicious Person on Trail

Independence Schools went into ‘secure door status’ after a suspicious person was reported walking on a nearby trail.

The Independence Police Department says they received a call of a suspicious male walking on a trail around 9:30 am Thursday. He had walked into the corn when encountered by another person walking on the trail. Officers responded and checked the area, but weren’t able to find anyone. 

The Independence Community School District was notified of the call due to the proximity of all three schools. They were advised of the situation and made the decision to go into ‘secure door status’, not lockdown.

Officers also called on the Independence Fire Department, Buchanan County Emergency Management and Buchanan County Sheriff’s Office, who all responded and assisted in flying drones over the area to aid in the search for the suspicious person. There was no person found in the area of the trail or the fields. 

In a press release issued Thursday morning, Independence Police Chief David Niedert says at no time was there ever any information that the suspicious person was a threat to anyone or possessed any type of weapons. Chief Niedert says all actions of the police department and its community partners were made in an abundance of caution to keep all people using their trail system, the neighborhood and the schools safe.