After Calling Bomb Squad, Wilton Police Determine Object Thought to be Grenade at Middlebrook School was “Not a Threat”

Wilton’s Middlebrook School was placed into a “secure hold protocol” and the Stamford Bomb Squad was called on Monday, June 3, after an object that was thought to be a hand grenade was found in the batting cages behind the school building.  

School officials and the Wilton Police Department both released statements that said a staff member found the item and notified Middlebrook administrators a few minutes after 1 p.m. on Monday.

Middlebrook administrators immediately initiated a “secure protocol” and notified the Wilton Police.

According to the Wilton Public Schools‘ statement, “Any students and staff outside the building at that time were ushered inside as the school moved into the secure protocol. Students whose classrooms were in close proximity to the fields moved to a separate part of the building as per the Wilton Police Department.”  

Wilton Police secured the scene and called in the Stamford Bomb Squad, which arrived on scene at approximately 2 p.m.

According to the police statement, the device was found near the batting cages, “which are far from the school building.”

The school statement noted that the staff member did not touch the object and observed it to be hollow “based on a visible hole in the bottom of it,” but could not determine if the item was “real or a facsimile.”

Wilton Police said the Stamford Bomb Squad personnel determined the device to be “hollow and inert” and removed the item.

Based on the Bomb Squad’s assessment of the situation, school officials lifted the secure protocol at approximately 2:15 p.m. and sent an “all clear” communication to staff and the community.

School officials said students were able to “resume their typical day” which included moving to their last period class.  

The statement from school officials referred to the responsiveness on the part of both Middlebrook staff and the Wilton Police.

“While we recognize that such a finding may be unsettling, we want to highlight the quick response of the Middlebrook staff, the Wilton Police Department, and the Stamford Bomb Squad, all of which acted quickly out of an abundance of caution to ensure the safety of students and staff,” it read.

GOOD Morning Wilton has sent follow-up questions to police and school officials regarding whether students were in the proximity of the device when it was located and whether police have determined if the item was a facsimile or an inert or empty explosive, as well as if authorities know where it came from. The story will be updated accordingly.