Intruder forces lockdown at GW: ; Police say juvenile appeared to be under the influence of a substance

Students at George Washington High School were placed on lockdownTuesday morning after an intruder entered the school gymnasium andignored teachers who asked him to leave, school principal MelissaRuddle said.

The juvenile was taken away in handcuffs by Charleston policeofficers, she said.

Ruddle said three teachers saw the young man in the schoolgymnasium about 7:45 a.m. and asked him to leave.

"He seemed to be under the influence of something," Ruddle said.

Students were immediately placed on lockdown and administratorscalled 911, she said.

A traffic officer at the school responded first and awaitedbackup to remove the intruder, she said. At least eight officersresponded to the call and detained the young man, Ruddle said.

While staff was certain he was not a student at GW, some studentswho had spotted him recognized him and said he had once attendedJohn Adams Middle School, the principal said.

During the incident, students were locked inside their classroomsor the school library, she said.

"During a lockdown a red button is pushed that locks outsidedoors," she added.

She said the lockdown was administered in a calm and efficientmanner.

"The kids have been practicing lockdown and shelter-in-placesince kindergarten," she said.

A shelter-in-place would be used during an emergency such as achemical leak and students would gather in the cafeteria, she said.During a lockdown, students are to go inside classrooms or thelibrary in an effort to get to the safest spot as quickly aspossible, she said.

Classes resumed as usual Tuesday morning after about 25 minutes,Ruddle said.

Charleston Sgt. Eric Hodges said the patrol division arrested ajuvenile in the incident but that further information would not beavailable until Wednesday. However, he said police could onlyrelease limited information because the suspect is a juvenile.

PHOTO COURTESY OF JERRY WATERS Emergency crews responded to a 911call at George Washington High School on Tuesday morning when anintruder was discovered in the gymnasium and did not respond torequests that he leave. Charleston police took the juvenile away inhandcuffs.

Contact writer Charlotte Ferrell Smith at charlotte@dailymail.comor 304-348-1246.