Police: Sleepwalking Student Prompts Security Concerns, Closures Of School
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GREENSBURG (KDKA) – Classes were canceled at a Westmoreland County middle school on Wednesday after a series of events raised questions about security.
According to police, there was a reported break-in around 2:30 a.m. at the Wendover Middle School in Hempfield Township.
A student allegedly pushed their way through a screen to gain access to the building. The student claims they were sleepwalking at the time and when they woke up, they called police.
"It appears he went through a screen in the window and got himself in the school. He was in the school about 15 minutes," said Trooper Stephan Limani, of Pennsylvania State Police. "He believes he was sleep-walking and went to the school."
Police said the student lives about four miles from the school.
As a precautionary measure, the district closed the school for the day and had it swept for any potential problems, but nothing was found.
Howeever, this incident came on the heels of a student being arrested for threats. In that incident, a 13-year-old male student allegedly threatened to shoot a female student.
"A couple days prior, we did have a male student verbally threaten a female student, saying he was going to shoot her," said Trooper Limani.
The boy has been arrested and is being held in the Westmoreland County Juvenile Detention Center.
After extensive searches, the building was deemed safe, and classes will resume Thursday morning.