2 Union Co. Schools Locked Down Monday After Criminal Activity In Area

SPRINGFIELD, NJ — Both Walton and Sandmeier Schools in Springfield were placed on lockdown Monday afternoon while police searched for suspects in the area.

Springfield's Police Chief John P. Cook wrote on Facebook that the schools were put on lockdown after a resident observed suspicious activity by three individuals who were attempting to burglarize a vehicle in the area of Essex Road.

The resident called the police and had verbally encountered the suspects who then fled on foot, police said. The criminals attempted to order an Uber to pick them up on Lelak Avenue but failed o meet with the driver as police had saturated the area looking for the suspects, the Chief said.

Police said one suspect was caught relatively quickly and the other two were seen running across Hillside Avenue through yards and into the wooded areas that are adjacent to both the Walton and Sandmeier Schools.

For the safety of students and staff, the Chief said the police advised both schools to shelter in place because there were two unknown criminal suspects attempting to elude police in the immediate area. Cook said police did not want either or both suspects getting into either of the schools.

According to Springfield Schools, security protocols were immediately put in place, and the students stayed in the classrooms and continued their end-of-day routines. At around 3 p.m., the schools were advised that they could begin dismissal procedures at entrances under the observation of Springfield Police Department officers.

In addition, given that a full-scale police search of the areas around the schools was taking place with numerous Springfield officers, as well as Mountainside Police, Millburn Police, Union County Police and Union County Sheriff K9, Cook said "ensuring students remained inside the school buildings to avoid any potential interference with the search was critical, especially as the incident progressed."

Shortly after the lockdown was imposed, police said a second suspect was captured. At this time, police assigned several units to provide additional security at both the Walton and Sandmeier Schools and made arrangements with the schools to conduct a restricted dismissal so that only necessary doors would be open. Officers were stationed at those doors.

"We do understand the stress and inconvenience that this may have caused some of the parents who pick up their children, or the drivers attempting to get through the traffic, but to our Department, the safety of the children of Springfield and the staff who are responsible for them every day take priority over anyone being inconvenienced," Cook said. "The patience of everyone was truly appreciated and we are thankful that it all worked out to a successful school day for your children."

Police advise the residents of the Hillside Ave., Tudor Court, South Springfield Ave, Essex Road and Lelak Ave areas, that the three suspects are thought to have traveled on foot from Route 22 up Hillside Ave to South Springfield Avenue to the Essex Road area. Police said proceeds from at least one vehicle burglary were recovered on them.

If any residents find that their vehicle may have been burglarized and/or may have security surveillance recordings from their home/business systems that show three individuals walking and/or running together sometime between the time frame of 1 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. on Monday, they are advised to reach out to Detective Lieutenant James Mirabile at 973 912 2242.