East Hampton High School Evacuated After 'Written Threat' Found

Update, 11 a.m.: After police searched East Hampton School following the discovery of a threat on a bathroom mirror, students were allowed to return to classes Wednesday morning at about 10:45. 

"Police and staff at the school have deemed it to be safe," said Town Police Capt. Chris Anderson. He declined to provide the details of the threatening message, but called it "a very non-specific threat." The building was immediately evacuated, and police and school personnel did a "full sweep" of the school.  

School officials posted an announcement on the district's website: "After a comprehensive search, the high school has now been deemed safe for students to return to their classrooms." 

"At this point, we do not know the length of time that particularly threat has been present," Captain Anderson said. "The building is clear and the investigation is continuing." 

No arrests were made as of 11 a.m. 

Update, 10:45 a.m.: Students are reportedly re-entering East Hampton High School and class is expected to resume.

Some parents lined up on Long Lane while students sat in bleachers on the football field after the building was evacuated following the discovery of a written threat on a bathroom mirror. 

Police were unavailable for comment. 

Original, 9:20 a.m.: East Hampton High School students are being evacuated Wednesday morning after a written threat was discovered on a bathroom mirror, Town Police Chief Michael Sarlo said.

At 9:02 a.m., all parents in the school district received an automated phone call informing them that the high school on Long Lane was being evacuated "due to a message scrawled on a bathroom mirror." School officials said the message did not appear to be credible, but that the district we will always act with an "abundance of caution" in these situations.

The police chief declined to say what the threat was exactly. He said the message was found just before 9 a.m.

Chief Sarlo said patrol officers are working with the school resource officer and school personnel to conduct "a sweep of the building for anything suspicious."  He called the evacuation "a precautionary measure." 

"High school students have been evacuated as a precautionary action due to a message on a bathroom mirror," said Richard Burns, the district's superintendent. "Town police are on the scene. A thorough search of the building is underway. The district will always err on the side of safety."

As of 9:15 a.m., the bomb squad and other specialized police units were not being called in, but that could change depending on the findings, the chief said. "We'll walk through. Our officers are trained and they know what to look for."

Students were being lined up on the field. The chief said school officials will have to decide whether to bus students to another building or send them home. 

Check back for more information as it becomes available.

With Reporting by Amanda Fairbanks