Email Threat at Drum Rock Ruled Misunderstanding, Lockdown Lifted

WARWICK, RI — A report of an email threat at Drum Rock Early Childhood Center, 575 Centerville Road, quickly ruled a false alarm, drew Warwick Police to Drum Rock School Wednesday, April 25, at 12:06 p.m., armed with rifles as a line of parents in cars waited to drop children off for pre-kindergarten classes.

The Toll Gate School Complex, including Toll Gate High School, Drum Rock School and Winman School was locked down while officers assessed the situation.

WPD Maj. Rick Rathbun announced the lockdown had been lifted at 12:27 p.m. via the police department’s Twitter feed. The department also announced the update on Facebook.

Thursday morning, Rathbun said the threat was determined to be an email from a special needs student that had been misinterpreted by staff.  A school employee activated an alarm out of abundance of caution. The incident was closed  after speaking with all involved parties, Rathbun said.

Mandy Blankenship commented on the WPD Facebook page about the incident.

“It was my daughter’s preschool I was sitting in front of the main doors watching cops armed with rifles wearing bullet proof vests,” she said. The experience scared her and her daughter, she said.