Hillside Elementary on lockdown as precaution

An unfolding police situation in West Valley City prompted the lockdown of a nearby elementary school Tuesday afternoon.

A statement by the Granite School District posted on its Facebook page states that officials placed Hillside Elementary School, 4283 S. 6000 West, on lockdown at about 12:45 p.m. because a suspect had barricaded himself inside of a home near the school.

The statement also said there was no threat to the students' safety and the lockdown was a precautionary measure.

District spokesman Ben Horsley said the school was placed on what's known as a "soft lockdown," meaning the doors would be locked from the outside and only certain people would be allowed in. Students are still free to move around within the school but won't be able to leave the building until the end of the school day at 3:45 p.m.

Parents of students at the school were asked to pick up their children directly from the school and escort them home or to have an emergency contact pick pick them up.

"We want to make sure our students aren't wandering the neighborhood with this happening in the area," Horsley said.

The Tribune will provide more details as they become available.

- Kimball Bennion