FOLEY, Ala. — Foley Police descended on Foley Intermediate School this morning and locked down the building to investigate a possible security threat.

According to Baldwin County Public Schools spokesman Terry Wilhite, a parent alerted administrative staff at the school that their child heard another say they “might bring a firearm to school today.”

"I believe the threat was made yesterday on the bus," said Foley Police Lt. David White at the school.

He explained that the parent then called Foley Intermediate this morning.

"The SRO officer was here when the call was made," White said, "and we responded."

Wilhite explained that the response consisted of a lock down that from shortly after 9 o’clock this morning until shortly after 11. It included interviewing all involved, including witnesses, as well as searching the school "for precautionary reasons,” White said.

"No weapons were found," the lieutenant said.

Police did charge the student making the threat with rendering a false alarm.

He also credited Foley Police Department’s SRO program, which provided an SRO officer at the school on a full-time basis with addressing the issue in a expedient manner.

“It worked out extremely well,” Wilhite said.

While Gulf Coast Newspapers was investigating the lock down, a few parents were checking students out of the school. While it’s unclear whether that was related to the lock down, Wilhite said such a response is unnecessary and could actually make it more difficult for law enforcement.

“In an actual emergency, it would be difficult to determine who was a perpetrator and who was a parent,” he said.

Wilhite explained that a lock down is law enforcement’s precautionary response to possible danger.

“Access by the public is stopped,” he said. “That includes parents.”

It also means students stay in place while police investigate, even if they’re investigating something that’s just a rumor.

“We will have multiple lock downs throughout the school year,” Wilhite said.

He added that the school system keeps parents apprised in real time of lock downs and other situations through an immediate-notification system.