Suspicious packages found at Whitewater H.S. deemed non-threatening; class to resume Tuesday



WHITEWATER -- Whitewater High School was evacuated Monday morning, February 27th after two suspicious packages were found outside.The building was placed on lockdown for several hours while officials investigated.

The packages were found shortly before 8:00 a.m. at the school's tennis courts.

Suspicious packages found at Whitewater High School



Mark Elworthy, Whitewater Unified Schools District Administrator



"There's a walking path near the tennis court and so it was reported by a community member," said Mark Elworthy, Whitewater Unified Schools district administrator.

Students were immediately moved to the school auditorium, and then moved off campus to the UW-Whitewater Young Auditorium as a precautionary measure. The Whitewater Aquatic Center was also evacuated and nearby residents were notified.

"They put us all in buses with our first hour teacher and took us all to the college at the Young Auditorium," said Dakota Isbelle, student. "There were some that were scared, actually. Most of us, we didn't think it was really anything because we see it so much."

Suspicious packages found at Whitewater High School



Officials said it was determined that a door to the school was left open overnight -- prompting police to bring in a bomb-sniffing dog. The Kenosha County Bomb Squad was also brought in to inspect the packages and check inside the school for any other suspicious items.

In the end, two suspicious packages were located, analyzed and determined to be non-threatening. The interior of the buildings was also searched for any suspicious items.

No additional suspicious items have been located in or around the buildings.

Suspicious packages found at Whitewater High School



The "all clear" was given around 1:15 p.m. Monday. Students were allowed to come back to the building for vehicles. Classes, however, were canceled for the remainder of the day.

Classes are expected to resume on Tuesday, February 28th.

Whitewater police continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the packages.