Schools Locked Down After Police Pursuit of Suspect

Haddonfield schools were in a tier 1 lockdown for nearly an hour today  after being notified of a foot-pursuit of a suspect by police, according to district Superindendant Richard Perry.

"I got a phone call from police that they were in pursuit of a burglary suspect in the vicinity of Elizabeth Haddon elementary school area," Perry said shortly before 3 p.m. "I think it was around Linden Ave. I just thought it was in our best interest to do a tier 1 lockdown, which means no one comes in or out to the building. I just thought it was a good idea at the time. We just basically locked the doors and did not let anyone in or out from about 11:40 a.m. to 12:25 p.m."

Perry said class instruction continued as normal. He said children who may have been on recess during the alert were led back into the school and midday kindergarten dismissal was slightly delayed.

Perry said parents were first sent a text message and then an email to explain the situation as it was occurring.

The Elizabeth Haddon school is at 501 Redman Ave.  Police, at 2:30 p.m., were not able to immediately provide any further information, including if the suspect was still atlarge.

A borough resident said they received the following email alert shortly after 1 p.m.:

“All Haddonfield Schools in a lockdown today (Tier 1) due to the pursuit of a burglary suspect on foot by Haddonfield police.”

Please look for updates here when more details become available.

Update: —thanks in part to a citizen's chase.