Associated Press

HAYDEN, Ala. — A Blount County school secretary is facing a felony charge after police say she lied about a gunman being at the school.

Blount County Sheriff Deputy Tim Kent tells local media that Carmen Williams was charged with rendering false alarm on Friday. Williams is a receptionist at Hayden Elementary School, 30 miles north of Birmingham.

Principal Shawn Marsh told investigators that he was running an errand when Williams called him, saying there was a gunman in the school and asking if the school should go on lockdown. Marsh says Williams screamed and the call became disconnected.

Deputies say Williams says she was playing a joke, but Kent says the hoax caused his deputies to put their lives at risk to rush to the scene.

Williams has been placed on paid administrative leave while school officials conduct their own investigation.

Copyright 2015 The Associated Press