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Staff writer

Woodcrest Elementary School and Spring Lake Park High School went into lockdown Nov. 17 after a vehicle theft occurred at Highway 65 and E. Moore Lake Drive, according to Fridley police.

The District 16 schools underwent a perimeter lockdown, meaning the exterior doors were locked to keep students from leaving and to keep anyone from entering the building, while Fridley police searched the area with its canine unit for the suspect, according to Acting Superintendent Jeff Ronneberg.

“There was no disruption for our students,” he said.

The lockdown in both schools took place between 2 and 2:30 p.m.

Ronneberg estimates Woodcrest was locked for about 15 minutes, while the high school was locked for less than 10 minutes.

The district immediately sent messages via e-mail and telephone to students’ parents and staff, according to Jim Elert, District 16 communications coordinator.

The e-mail message with the subject field titled “All is well after a brief lockdown,” said the temporary lockdown, a precautionary measure as the result of an attempted nearby car-jacking, had ended and students were kept inside their schools and were safe.

According to Lt. Mike Monsrud of the Fridley Police Department, three suspects were involved in the theft.

One person drove the vehicle to Highway 65 and Osborne Road and abandoned the car. She ran into the VFW on 1040 Osborne Road, went into the bathroom and changed her clothes, according  Monsrud.

Police set up a canine unit and recommended a lockdown at Woodcrest.

“We thought it was best for the school,” Monsrud said in a phone interview. “We didn’t want her running into the school.”

Two of the three suspects had warrants out for their arrest, one for disorderly conduct. Information was not available according to Monsrud for the other warrant.

The two suspects were taken to jail, while the third, a female, was questioned and released, Monsrud said.

The stolen car is being processed for fingerprints by the Anoka County Crime Lab. The car was returned to its owner, who was from Oak Grove.

A detective has been assigned to the case and will continue to do follow-up, according to Monsrud.

The lockdown ended just before 2:30 p.m., according to Elert.

Said Ronneberg, “When something like this happens, we work with law enforcement and let them take the lead, with students and staff safety being of the foremost importance.”

Woodcrest is located in Fridley, while the high school is located in Spring Lake Park.

District 16 serve students in Spring Lake Park and parts of Fridley and Blaine.

Elyse Kaner is at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it