Teen arrested in connection with threat at Topeka West H.S.

A teenager was arrested in connection with threats that sent Topeka West High School into secure campus procedures, Topeka Police said.

Topeka Police say Isaiah Hodge, 19, was booked on a charge of aggravated criminal threat.

According to a news release, dispatch received a call around 1 p.m. Tuesday from a person who stated they'd heard another person threatening violence to Topeka West H.S.

In response, Topeka Public Schools Police Chief Ron Brown told 13 NEWS the school stepped up security because of a "potential external threat."

Under a Secured Campus protocol, activity continues as normal inside the building, however all outside doors are locked and officers are stationed around the perimeter of the campus, Brown explained.

He added students still were allowed to get through with a secure escort, and classes and school activities continued as normal.

"It’s important that the educational process go on during the course of the day. We don’t want to create unnecessary fear," Brown said. "The children were well protected at all times. We had a number of officers out here on the campus working with the administration."

TPD identified and spoke with several people associated with the incident. They then brought Hodge to the Law Enforcement Center, where he was questioned and subsequently booked into jail.