Two Taken Into Custody After Standoff That Forced Shelter In Place At Kearns Schools

KEARNS, Utah – Shelter in place protocols have been lifted at all five schools in Kearns, according to officials, and two people have been taken into custody.

West Jordan Police officers said they and Unified Police officers responded to the area of 5400 South and 4300 West to search for a suspect who bailed out of a vehicle after a short pursuit.

Police later determined the vehicle was stolen and said two suspects were in a garage and refused to come out.

One suspect surrendered and was taken into custody while the second suspect remained barricaded in the garage; the second suspect was taken into custody around 30 minutes later, according to police.

Officials said the second suspect suffered minor injuries after being bitten by a K-9 officer.

Earlier Monday afternoon, multiple schools in Kearns were placed in a shelter in place protocol as police searched for the two suspects in neighboring residential areas.

South Kearns Elementary (former Oquirrh Hills location), Gourley Elementary, West Kearns Elementary and Kearns Jr. High School were placed in the protocol Monday afternoon, according to officials.

The protocol was lifted at Kearns High just before 2:30 p.m. and all other schools except for South Kearns Elementary before 2:40 p.m.

Shelter in place orders were lifted at South Kearns Elementary just after 3:30 p.m. Monday.

School district officials said there was no direct threat to students and classes continued as normal.

UPDATE: The protocol at South Kearns has been lifted and students will be released as normal. We appreciate your patience and support as we work to keeps kids safe.

— Granite School Dist. (@GraniteSchools) September 30, 2019

In a shelter in place situation, Granite School District officials said a school’s exterior doors are locked and a police officer or administrator mans the front door of the building.

No visitors were allowed on any of the campuses mentioned above.

Officials said if school ends before a shelter in place order is lifted that students remain in the buildings and bus schedules are modified.

Westlake High School Also Shelters In Place

Monday morning, officials at Westlake High in Saratoga Springs said they received an alleged threat to the school. The school was placed in a shelter in place protocol while investigators looked into the allegation.

Police said they determined the threat was not credible and the protocol was lifted.