Oakland School Year Begins With Lockdowns Two Days In A Row
OAKLAND (KCBS) - Criminal activity near three different Oakland schools prompted lockdowns two days in a row just as the new school starts.
The arrest of five robbery suspects in East Oakland on Tuesday resulted in a lockdown at Horace Mann Elementary School. On Monday, Castlemont High School and East Oakland Pride Elementary School were locked down because of an armed carjacking in the vicinity.
"We do these as a precaution," said Troy Flint, spokesman for the Oakland Unified School District.
KCBS' Dave Padilla Reports:
Flint said lockdowns are not uncommon in the district, taking place on average two to four times a week.
"That figures doesn't really represent the number of cases where there's an imminent threat to the school. What it indicates is we're going out of our way to make sure the students are safe," he said.
Flint acknowledged lockdowns are not the best way to start the school year, but said the district had the duty to create safe havens for students to be able to learn.
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