LORAIN COUNTY, Ohio — Classes at the Firelands Local School District in Lorain County's Henrietta Township were disrupted earlier this week due to a person entering campus dressed in a Bigfoot costume.
Video of Bigfoot was posted on Facebook, showing the costumed sasquatch running past classroom windows.
According to Firelands Superintendent Michael Von Gunten, the person in costume parked in one of the district's lots, "crossed our campus and caused the district to enter into a lockdown." Von Gunten added that some elementary school students were outside and were quickly moved inside to safety.
Von Gunten told district parents and guardians that the person in the Bigfoot costume never gained entry into any school building. You can read his entire letter below:
Dear Parents and Guardians,
This afternoon, an unannounced visitor came to the campus dressed in costume.
This individual parked in one of our lots, crossed our campus and caused the district to enter into a lockdown. During this time, some students at our elementary school were outside and had to move quickly inside to safety. The school day was negatively impacted and although lockdown drills are practiced regularly, the situation caused understandable concern and disruption. At no point did this individual gain entry into any of our buildings.
While some people may make light of the situation, the fact remains that we cannot waiver from the side of safety.
Our staff responded promptly and SRO Trifiletti’s quick response led him to the suspect, off campus, on Vermilion Road.
This individual induced panic on our campus and this type of behavior will not be tolerated.
So what happens to the person in the Bigfoot costume?
3News reached out to the Lorain County Sheriff's Office and were told that the person in the costume was a parent who was taking part in a prank. The parent was pulled over as part of a traffic stop. Firelands' school resource officer is completing a report which will be sent to the Oberlin Prosecutor's Office for review. No charges have been filed at this time.
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