RESERVE — An open stapler wrapped in a bandana was cause for concern at East St. John High School Monday morning, leading to a gun scare, a two-hour school lockdown and a student being arrested for terrorizing.

The school was put on lockdown shortly after 11 a.m. Monday after a student reported seeing a possible firearm in another student’s possession. Students reported hearing Principal Christopher Mayes come onto the intercom and announce that the lockdown was not a drill.

Police were called immediately, according to a statement released to Wildcat parents by East St. John officials.

“We take our students’ safety extremely seriously and immediately locked down our school and conducted a search in cooperation with the St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Office,” the statement said. “After an extensive search, no weapon was located on campus and our school resumed normal operations.”

St. John Sheriff Mike Tregre and School District communications confirmed the item in question was determined to be an open stapler wrapped in a bandana, which could be confused for a gun from a distance.

The student was removed from campus and booked by the Sheriff’s Office with terrorizing. According to Tregre, there were other students involved who will face discipline from the school.

Around dismissal time Monday evening, Tregre said all was “under control and back to normal,” adding there was no cause for concern regarding student safety.

No further information had been released about the arrest as of press time Tuesday morning.

According to Louisiana law, terrorizing is “the intentional communication of information that the commission of a crime of violence is imminent or in progress, or that a circumstance dangerous to human life exists or is about to exist, with the intent of causing members of the general public to be in sustained fear for their safety.”

A terrorizing charge can also refer to an action that causes an evacuation or other serious disruption to the general public.

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