Sarasota High lockdown blamed on nearby construction

By Jim DeLa
| 11:20 a.m. November 22, 2024

Police officers responded to a lockdown initiated at Sarasota High School Nov. 22. It was determined to be a false alarm.

Sarasota
Schools

A false alarm apparently trigged by construction activity sent Sarasota High School into lockdown Friday morning, police said.

The campus was locked down about 10:20 a.m., prompting police, including Sarasota County Schools Police and Sarasota Police Department units, to rush to the scene.

Students began texting parents and families, which caused a flurry of comments on social media.

A hour later, Sarasota Police posted its own message on Facebook and X, saying it was a false alarm. "After a thorough investigation, we have determined there is no active threat.

"The alarm was triggered as a result of nearby construction activity," the department's post said. "We want to thank the staff, students, and parents for their cooperation and patience as we ensured everyone’s safety."

author

Jim DeLa

Jim DeLa is the digital content producer for the Observer. He has served in a variety of roles over the past four decades, working in television, radio and newspapers in Florida, Colorado and Hawaii. He was most recently a reporter with the Community News Collaborative, producing journalism on a variety of topics in Sarasota, Manatee and DeSoto counties; and as a digital producer for ABC7 in Sarasota.