FREEDOM — The Mount View school complex was placed into “lock out” status for a time Tuesday morning after a juvenile was reported to have boarded a school bus carrying a handgun, according to a press release from the Waldo County Sheriff’s Department. 

Waldo County Regional Dispatch received a 911 call from a citizen early Tuesday morning about a juvenile male who appeared to be waiting for a school bus at the end of a driveway. The caller stated they had seen the juvenile in possession of a handgun. It was also learned that the juvenile had been picked up by the school bus.

Deputies from the Waldo County Sheriff’s Department responded and were able to stop the school bus. They identified and safely removed the student. 

Their investigation revealed that the student had been in possession of a pellet gun before boarding the bus, but had left it at the residence before he got on. 

“In response to the situation the Mount View Complex was placed into a ‘lock out’ status this morning until the situation was resolved,” said Sheriff Jeff Trafton in a press release May 19.

A “lock out” typically refers to a perceived threat outside of the respective building, while a “lockdown” occurs in response to a perceived threat that is already inside. 

Erica Thoms can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com