Riverhead schools are on heightened alert this morning, with school administrators guarding entrances and police cars visible on the perimeters of the central campus, after reports of a rifle-toting man walking nearby put the schools on lockdown for about an hour yesterday morning.
Police chief David Hegermiller said the Riverhead police department received two reports of a "heavy-set black male carrying a rifle" walking in the vicinity of Cranberry Street and Griffing Avenue yesterday morning shortly after the school day began at the high school on Harrison Avenue. One of the reports said the man was entering Riverhead cemetery.
Rumors started flying after the initial reports, police said. There had been no threats made to the school district, according to police.
The high school, middle school, Pulaski Street and Roanoke Avenue schools were on lockdown for about an hour yesterday. Children in portable classrooms were moved to locations within the school buildings. The district then moved to a "lock out" status, with visitors banned and high schol students not allowed to leave the campus for lunch. It is unknown at this time whether the lock out will continue today as well.
Anyone with any information about this is asked to call the Riverhead police tip hotline at 727-3333. All calls will be kept confidential.
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