Police said a staff member at Maple Avenue Elementary School falsely reported that a man with a handgun was outside the school earlier this week.Click to watch News 9's coverage.Claremont police said the school went into lockdown just after 10 a.m. Monday.Authorities searched the school and surrounding neighborhood and found no evidence of any person or gun.Superintendent Middleton McGoodwin said the staff member is a paraprofessional in her first year with the school district. McGoodwin said the staff member reported that she saw a suspicious man walking through the parking lot."You never make excuses or second-guess," McGoodwin said.After police found no evidence of the man, the lockdown was lifted. Parents were notified, as was the school board."When I found out it was nothing, it was relieving," said parent Aubrey Alexander. "That's good, but on the other hand, I felt kind of betrayed."Police said that when they interviewed the staff member two days later, she admitted she had never seen a man with a gun."There are some personal issues, I assume," McGoodwin said. "I am not a clinician and won't say I know what those issues are, but when I learned what had happened and the personal had given false information, I immediately put the person on paid administrative leave."Parents said they're thankful that school officials took action, but they said the whole ordeal had an impact on their kids."She was crying, upset and really scared," said parent Jill Dolan.Claremont police said they are investigating, and the police chief said he expects to issue an arrest warrant next week.12967056

Police said a staff member at Maple Avenue Elementary School falsely reported that a man with a handgun was outside the school earlier this week.

Click to watch News 9's coverage.


Claremont police said the school went into lockdown just after 10 a.m. Monday.

Authorities searched the school and surrounding neighborhood and found no evidence of any person or gun.

Superintendent Middleton McGoodwin said the staff member is a paraprofessional in her first year with the school district. McGoodwin said the staff member reported that she saw a suspicious man walking through the parking lot.

"You never make excuses or second-guess," McGoodwin said.

After police found no evidence of the man, the lockdown was lifted. Parents were notified, as was the school board.

"When I found out it was nothing, it was relieving," said parent Aubrey Alexander. "That's good, but on the other hand, I felt kind of betrayed."

Police said that when they interviewed the staff member two days later, she admitted she had never seen a man with a gun.

"There are some personal issues, I assume," McGoodwin said. "I am not a clinician and won't say I know what those issues are, but when I learned what had happened and the personal had given false information, I immediately put the person on paid administrative leave."

Parents said they're thankful that school officials took action, but they said the whole ordeal had an impact on their kids.

"She was crying, upset and really scared," said parent Jill Dolan.

Claremont police said they are investigating, and the police chief said he expects to issue an arrest warrant next week.