Planned lockdown drill goes awry in Hastings, no emergency reported

Authorities with Hastings Public Schools say a large police presence in the district Wednesday morning was caused by a false alarm.

According to Superintendent Robert McDowell, a planned lockdown drill at 8:30 a.m. for one of the district buildings inadvertently sent multiple buildings into lockdown.

Due to multiple buildings going into lockdown, police were then dispatched, although there was not an actual emergency in any of the buildings.

District leaders thanked police, staff and students for their response and action.