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Police chief: Officer trained in crisis prevention talked to teen

Posted at 12:45 PM, Jan 08, 2014
and last updated 2014-01-08 17:41:55-05

GLEN ALLEN, Va. (WTVR) - Police provided an increased presence Wednesday at Glen Allen High School in Henrico County. They hoped their presence would "reassure students, faculty, and staff of their safety."

The increased presence comes one day after the school was locked down and SWAT team member searched the school building. Police searched the school after they received a tip that a distraught student planned to come to school Tuesday with a weapon.

The 16-year-old student was at not the school. He was taken into custody at his Glen Allen home Tuesday afternoon. He has not been charged with a crime at this time and is no longer in police custody, officials said.

Henrico Police Chief Doug Middleton answered questions about Tuesday's school lock down Wednesday afternoon.

Middleton, who would not elaborate on specifics of the case involving the distraught teen, said there was nothing to suggest the teen was ever on school property.

The chief credited one of the department's officers trained in crisis intervention with bringing a peaceful end to the situation.

“There was telephone communication with this young man by a crisis intervention trained supervisor," Middleton said. "And it was the skill of that trained supervisor that allowed that individual to be convinced to go to a specific location and stay there until police arrived.”

A threatening text message prompted the massive police response.

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