TOPEKA (KSNT) – A 14-year-old female Chase Middle School student is in custody after Topeka police received what they coined, “a credible threat to the school.”

On Wednesday, March 2, at approximately 10:30 a.m., USD 501 school administration placed Chase Middle School into a lockdown due to receiving a credible threat to the school, according to the Topeka Police Department.

Police reported the student was taken to the Topeka Law Enforcement Center for one count of criminal threat.

A grandparent of another student called the station and said the school had been on lockdown since noon, although KSNT could not confirm that with authorities as of 1:25 p.m. Wednesday. Attempts to call the school were not successful and Shawnee County Dispatch could not confirm if there were police officers at the school. However, a KSNT reporter confirmed there were police outside the school building.

Around 3:10 p.m., Dr. Aarion Gray with Topeka Public Schools said in an email that the Chase administration had received information in the afternoon regarding a social media post that was “concerning.” The school notified law enforcement and the building was placed on secure campus until police and school officials could have a chance to investigate. .

The nearby Holy Family Catholic School notified families that the school was on “secure campus” while law enforcement officials investigate a matter in the community. It has since issued a statement on Facebook that the school is no longer on secure entry and that pickup will resume as normal.

According to a KSNT reporter at Holy Family, there was no police presence at the school.

Holy Family Catholic School posted a statement on social media at 1:55 p.m.:

“HFCS Families, out of an abundance of caution, Holy Family Catholic School is placed on secure campus while law enforcement officials investigate a matter in the community. As the appropriate agencies investigate this matter, the schools will remain in secure campus mode where everyone stays in the building. We do not have additional details we can share at this time. Staff and students are safe and instruction is continuing. Thank you for your support for the staff and students at Holy Family.”

KSNT confirmed with Holy Family Catholic School that the grade school went “secure campus” around 12:40 p.m. today.

According to Holy Family, the school went on “secure campus” because Chase is on lockdown because of something in the community. A school official said the school is being cautious.

Holy Family also told KSNT that on Tuesday Topeka Police raided a building at Freeman and Seward after school hours. Kids were outside for the after-school program.