Police Respond to Menacing Incident Near High School

Police were called to Hampton Bays High School on Sept. 29 when a middle school student walking home from a practice football game reported that he was accosted near the school. 

According to police, the incident took place at approximately 7:10 p.m.  The student, whose name was not released, said that a man in a car drove up alongside him on East Argonne Road and appeared to be holding a weapon. The boy immediately returned to the school and told the coach, who then called police. A search of the area by police did not produce any leads.

School Superintendent Lars Clemensen sent a letter home to parents on Sept. 30 to inform them of the incident.

"This was an off-campus incident, Clemensen said on Wednesday.  "We were really dealing with the police report of what happened."

The letter stated that parents could feel secure that the school takes every precaution in dealing with safety issues on or off campus.

"What this said to me was that the first thing he thought was to go back to the school," Clemensen said. "We always tell students that if you're out in the community, if you're riding your bike at night, the school is as safe place where there are security offers. It's a trusted place. Somebody who works at the school can help you if you're in a tough situation."

Clemensen said the school teaches students to use the buddy system when leaving the school at night and to use code words with adults they trust. If a car stops and a stranger tries to lure a child in by saying that a parent gave permission to pick them up at the school, the child will ask for a code word. 

"The world we live in is a crazy world," Clemensen said. "The school is a safe place for students."  Of the incident, he said. "Thankfully everybody's OK and we are using it as a way to revisit our safety plans with all kids."