Carmel Middle School was locked down for about 10 minutes this morning as local police searched for an escaped patient from a nearby residential facility.

Carmel Clay Director of Student Services Steve Dillon said the move came after the district was notified that a 16-year-old autistic boy with violent tendencies had left a downtown residential facility and was last seen headed west toward the school.

The young man was caught less than a half-hour later, and it didn’t appear he had gotten close to the school.

“The last thing we want is an individual who’s agitated and confused getting into a building with our students and teachers,” Dillon said.


Principal Denise Jacobs, in an e-mail to parents, called it “a precautionary move,” adding normal activities within the school continued while the external lockdown was in effect.