'All Clear' after Brief Lockdown at Ferndale Middle, High Schools Friday

Ferndale High School and Middle School were on lockdown for about 20 minutes Friday afternoon while police searched for an "armed intruder" believed to be in the area.

Michigan State Police notified the schools of an armed intruder in Royal Oak Township at 3:25 p.m. and the schools were put on lockdown, after dismissal, according to a statement from district communications director Stephanie Hall.

Students remaining in the schools at that time were held in the building, and police held back students walking home and those on buses headed to the township.

The school received an "all-clear" from State Police at 3:45 p.m. and students in the school and on buses were released.

"All students have been transported home," Hall said.

Ferndale Police Lt. Gary Whiting said Ferndale officers assisted Michigan State Police – which covers Royal Oak Township along with the Oakland County Sheriff's Department – in the search around 3 p.m. He said the man is no longer believed to have been armed.

"It's completely resolved," Whiting said. "They're still looking for him but there's no issue with it being a danger to the school."

He said area residents need not be concerned.

The search area was bordered by Northend, Cloverdale, Mitchelldale and Bethellawn, just west of the school campus.

The Sheriff's Department could not be reached for comment Friday afternoon.

"Our first concern was our students' safety and we are glad that this is over," Hall said.