A report of a suspicious person walking toward the Clune Center polling location brought a substantial police response to the Wilton High School campus on Monday, Oct. 26, prompting a lockdown at the high school, security holds at nearby schools and poll workers to shelter in a secure room.
Police later announced that the Clune Center had been cleared and deemed safe. Surveillance footage showed a man carrying a walking cane who partially matched the reported description, but police determined he had been on the premises for legitimate purposes and posed no threat.
Registrar of Voters Karen Birck said she believed it was likely the first lockdown in Wilton’s voting history.
According to the Wilton Police Department, officers were dispatched after the department received a report at approximately 11:42 a.m. of an older man allegedly carrying a “barrel” over his shoulder while walking toward the Clune Center, where early voting was taking place.
Police said nearby schools were placed in a “secure mode,” while Wilton High School was placed in lockdown because of its proximity to the Clune Center and the ease of access between the two.
Students on the campus told GOOD Morning Wilton that they had gone into lockdown, moving into corners of their classrooms.
Poll workers told GMW they were ushered into a secure space without windows. They described the Zellner Gallery, where voting takes place, as a “fishbowl,” with walls of windows on two sides. They said they had a clear view of police establishing a staging area in the Clune Center parking lot and saw several officers with long guns drawn.
GMW was on the high school campus during the response and observed numerous police officers, including officers carrying long guns. A campus supervisor who monitors the parking lots instructed GMW’s reporter to remain in her vehicle because there was an “ongoing emergency.”
Residents received an alert at 12:32 p.m. headed “Urgent: Public Safety Notice,” advising them that police were investigating suspicious activity involving an individual at the polling location.
“Officers are clearing the polling site as a precaution while they conduct their investigation,” the notice stated. “Nearby schools remain in a secure mode to ensure the safety of students and staff while police operations are in progress.”
A subsequent alert at 12:45 p.m. announced that police activity had concluded.
“Police activity has concluded, and the Clune Center has been cleared and deemed safe. Normal activities may now resume,” the update stated.
Police presence lightened significantly after the initial response to a suspicious person report. Credit: GOOD Morning Wilton 
Police presence lightened significantly after the initial response to a suspicious person report. Credit: GOOD Morning Wilton 
Early voting at Clune Center. Poll workers sheltered in a windowless room and noted that voting takes place in the Zellner Gallery which they compared to a fishbowl. Credit: GOOD Morning Wilton 
Early voting at Clune Center. Poll workers sheltered in a windowless room and noted that voting takes place in the Zellner Gallery which they compared to a fishbowl. Credit: GOOD Morning Wilton 
Early voting is going on at the Clune Center. Credit: GOOD Morning Wilton 
Early voting at Clune Center. Poll workers sheltered in a windowless room and noted that voting takes place in the Zellner Gallery which they compared to a fishbowl. Credit: GOOD Morning Wilton
In its account of the investigation, police said officers cleared the Clune Center but did not locate anyone matching the reported description.
Surveillance footage showed an older man wearing a military-green jacket and carrying a walking cane approaching the Clune Center shortly before the report was received. Police said he partially matched the description of the person reported.
The man had left before officers arrived. After reviewing the footage, police determined that he had been on the premises for legitimate purposes and posed no threat to bystanders or staff.
After clearing the Clune Center, officers lifted the high school lockdown, allowing students to leave their classrooms safely, police said. The security hold at other schools was also lifted, and all activities could resume.
The department thanked community members for promptly reporting suspicious activity and for their patience and cooperation during the investigation.
GMW has reached out to school, police and election officials for additional comment and will update this story as more information becomes available.
Editor’s note: This story has been updated with additional information from Wilton Police confirming what Wilton High School students told GMW earlier: The high school was placed in lockdown while other nearby schools were in a secure mode.
