LEAVITTSBURG - Three intruders and a LaBrae student are facing a variety of charges following an incident early Thursday that prompted the high school to go on lockdown.
The charges will range from criminal trespass to contributing to the delinquency of a minor to underage drinking.
One adult suspect, Billy R. Morrow Jr., 21, of Chicago, was charged with criminal trespass and contributing to unruliness or delinquency of a minor.
The other adult suspect, Kurt L. Pitcher, 25, of Mayfield, is facing a charge of criminal trespass, according to Warren Township police Lt. Don Bishop.
Two 16-year-olds - one a home-schooled student who lives outside the school district, the other a student at the school - also are facing
juvenile criminal charges, said Bishop said.
The home-schooled student is expected to be charged with criminal trespass, according to Bishop. The LaBrae student may be charged with drinking alcoholic beverages on school property.
Schools Superintendent Anthony J. Calderone said a student noticed three males in the school who were not students. The teacher identified the suspects to an assistant principal, who called the police.
The school was placed on lockdown about 7:30 a.m. The assistant principal then went into a classroom to pull out the suspects.
"He took them out the back door of the school toward the student parking lot," Bishop said. "They broke away from the assistant principal, ran to the front of the building, where their car was located in the teachers parking lot."
They got into their vehicle and tried to leave, but local law enforcement officials stopped them before the left the school's property.
A bottle of liquor was found in one of the backpacks the intruders were carrying, according to police.
Lanie Timko, 17, a senior at the high school, described the school being placed on lockdown shortly after first period started.
"An announcement was made over the intercom for the teachers to lock the doors and shut off the lights," she said.
A short time later, the principal announced that students should be moved to the rear of classrooms and away from doors and window.
"We were later told the lockdown was precautionary," Timko said. "The principal said no one was in danger. I feel safer knowing the school district has an emergency plan with the police."
Police took drug dogs through the building during the lockdown. No drugs or other contraband were found in the building.
Bishop said the police and school district have trained for such situations for about 10 years.
"The teachers and the administrators did exactly the right things," Bishop said. "By them being alert and noticing strangers in the build they helped to divert something that could have turned into something more dangerous."
"These school employees should be commended for the work," he continued.
Assisting the Warren Township police were officers from Warren, Lordstown and Weathersfield police departments, as well as the Trumbull County Sheriff's Office.