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Two taken into custody after police search near South Vermillion Middle School

 VERMILLION COUNTY, Ind. (WTHI) – Two men were taken into custody Tuesday afternoon after police searched the area and caused South Vermillion schools to go on lock-down.

It was after 11 a.m. when an automated message was sent out stating all of the schools were on lockdown as police searched the area.

24-Hour News 8’s sister station, WTHI said two people were seen carrying a walking stick after parking in the school parking lot and then walking into the woods.

Superintendent Dave Chapman and the automated message said the students were safe and there was no immediate threat.

“They didn’t check into either building, so as a matter of precautionary measures we put the schools on lock-down,” said Chapman.

WTHI said just before 1 p.m., they witnessed two men being escorted in handcuffs by Vermillion County Sheriff Deputies. Officials report John Wilson and Gregory Lowe were both arrested for trespassing.

Police said the two told them they were mushroom hunting, but Vermillion County Sheriff stated Lowe has been told before not to trespass on school property.

“When this call first came in everybody, including law enforcement, is kind of tensed up about this could turn into something bad really quick. I think it would be silly in this day and age that anybody would do what these two men did and think that it’s ok,” said Sheriff Mike Phelps.

Around 1:30 p.m., another automated message was sent out reporting all schools were taken off of lock-down and they would be resuming their normal activity.

“We want to make sure that we maintain a safe environment for our students,” said Chapman.