Update: 'Armed Suspicious Person' Detained Near OPMS and RHS Had Air Gun

Updated at 10: 15 a.m. on Oct. 25, 2012

The San Diego Sherif's Department said an "armed suspicious person was detained" near Ramona High School and Olive Peirce Middle School early Thursday morning.

The department said the schools were never on lockdown as the incident "began and ended so quickly."

According to a press release from the department, the incident occured at 7:01 a.m. and ended at 7:09 a.m.on the 1100 Block San Vicente Road. The Sheriff's Communication center received calls of a person armed with a gun walking northbound along San Vicente Road in Ramona and a CHP officer was first to arrive.

The sheriff's department said the road  was closed and communication was established between the CHP officer and the subject. Sheriff's Deputies arrived a short time later. One of the Deputies is a member of the Crisis Negotiations Team (CNT) and was able to talk the person into dropping the gun. The subject was then safely taken into custody.

The gun turned out to be an air gun and there were no injuries, authorities said.

Some residents on Ramona Patch's Facebook page reported that the person had the gun pointed to his head.

Paula Holopainen sent Patch the recorded call that was sent to parents of students from Ramona Unified School District Superintendent Robert Graeff:

Good morning. This is Superintendent Bob Graeff from the Ramona Unified School District. This morning before the start of school on San Vicente Road about two blocks away from Ramona High School, sheriffs apprehended a Ramona High student who was in possession of an air-soft pistol. The student was safely placed in custody and removed to a secure area outside of Ramona.

The reason for this call is because dozens of students and parents from various schools witnessed the event and rumors have been flying across the school district. To repeat, the student’s weapon was an air-soft pistol, at no time were any students in serious danger, sheriffs and school administrators responded instantly to calls from the community and immediately diffused the situation, and the student is now in custody.

Administrators at both Olive Pierce Middle School and Ramona High are reassuring students this morning of the facts which have come to light and both schools are operating normally for all students.

Thank you for helping us to explain the facts to your family’s children and for maintaining a calm environment within our school community.

Good bye.