Pocono News Section

Missile Forces School Lockdown

Missile Forces School Lockdown - Wednesday, October 24, 2007 at 5:36PM EST

Reported by: Laurie Monteforte
Wednesday, Oct 24, 2007 @05:36pm EST
STROUDSBURG - The Ramsey Elementary School in Stroudsburg was locked down Wednesday after someone found a missile in a nearby home.

"It appeared to have been a World War II or Korea type, possibly a Russian or German made missile," said Stroud Area Regional Police Corporal Ken Nevil.

A home renovator found the explosive while pulling up floorboards at a home on North Seventh Street. Police immediately evacuated the entire block. Since the school is located one block over, officers decided to keep the children in the building. "We thought it would be a lot safer if we kept them in school. They were far enough away from the device," explained Nevil.

While the kids were safe inside. The Pike County Bomb Squad picked up the missile. They then drove it to Milford, Pike County to detonate it.

The school lock down and block evacuation lasted just over two hours.

"It was textbook response by the Stroud Area Regional Police and everybody involved," said Monroe County's Emergency Management Director Guy Miller.

The Stroudsburg School Superintendent John Toleno agreed. Everyone worked well together to keep the children and the community safe.

"It's good to know that there are people like this in our area that are going to serve the area the way they did," said Toleno.

Officials are not sure how the missile ended up in the home. They remind anyone who finds an explosive to leave it alone and call police immediately.