Ottawa Hills, St. Ursula order a lockdown

10/12/2006

Two school systems were locked down yesterday while three youths were pursued in Ottawa Hills after University of Toledo police received a report about someone with a handgun near Savage Hall.

It was not yet confirmed whether the three youths were involved in the incident near the university, UT police Chief Jeff Newton said.

UT police contacted Ottawa Hills police about 10:50 a.m. regarding three youths who were seen near Savage Hall, where one of the youths pulled up his shirt and showed a handgun to a passer-by. Later, an Ottawa Hills police officer saw three teens, two on bicycles, near Kenwood Boulevard and Secor Road.

Based on descriptions provided by UT police, Ottawa Hills police attempted to stop the three teenagers, but they fled. At one point during the pursuit, one of the suspects dropped what was believed to be a gun but later was determined to be a hooded sweatshirt, Ottawa Hills police Chief Robert Overmeyer said.

While police looked for the suspects, Ottawa Hills Local Schools and nearby St. Ursula Academy were locked down for about an hour, beginning about 12:15 p.m.

One of the teenagers was apprehended after he rode his bicycle through fresh concrete in a construction zone. His bicycle became stuck, slowing him down enough to be caught, Chief Overmeyer said.

Another suspect was caught in the backyard of a residence in the 3700 block of Sulphur Spring Road near Evergreen Road.

Charges against the two suspects were pending. Both bicycles recovered were reported as stolen. No weapon was found, Chief Overmeyer said.

The third suspect, who ran on Kenwood into Toledo, was not apprehended.

Ottawa Hills schools Superintendent Gail Mirrow said students were alerted to the lockdown via announcements over the public address system. Notices about the lockdown were sent home with elementary school students yesterday afternoon.