Brief Lockout At Gerald Ford Elementary School Due To Suspect Search

PALM DESERT, CA — Gerald Ford Elementary School in Palm Desert was placed on a brief lockout Wednesday as sheriff's deputies searched for a burglary suspect in the area.

Deputies responded at 1:41 p.m. Wednesday to a report of a burglary in progress in the 43000 block of Elkhorn Trail, Riverside County Sheriff's Department Public Information Officer Sgt. Deirdre Vickers told City News Service.

As deputies searched for the unidentified suspect in the area, the lockout was put in place "out of an abundance of caution," Vickers said. The suspect was subsequently taken into custody without incident.

Desert Sands Unified School District spokesperson Mary Perry told CNS that the lockout, which was lifted shortly after 3 p.m., was put in place upon recommendation from law enforcement and that parents were made aware of the situation.

No additional information was available as the investigation remained ongoing.