Colony locked down

WASILLA — Colony Middle and High schools went into lockdown Wednesday after school officials received word of an armed robbery in the area.

“We got information from the Wasilla Police Department and the Alaska State Troopers that there was an armed robbery at a coffee shop on Bogard and Trunk (roads),” School district spokeswoman Catherine Esary said.

The two schools went into lockdown, she said, but students were free to move about the building and classes continued as normal. Esary said the lockdown was basically a means to keep people from getting into the schools.

As of early afternoon, Esary said she’d heard the robbery suspect had fled the area in a vehicle.

“We’re just telling folks at school to be aware of your surroundings,” she said.

Word did go out to parents via e-mail and automated phone calls, she said, informing them of the situation.