Student Finds Fake Bomb at Tuscaloosa's Northridge Middle School

There was a scare and a shelter-in-place order at Tuscaloosa's Northridge Middle School on Friday after a student apparently found an inert explosive accidentally left there during police training over Spring Break.

Stephanie Taylor, a spokeswoman for the Tuscaloosa Police Department, said the Hazardous Device Unit conducted a training exercise at Northridge Middle during Spring Break with TPD's K9 Division and the Tuscaloosa County Sheriff’s Office Hazardous Device Unit.

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The training took place while the school was empty and was conducted to ensure West Alabama law enforcement is ready to respond to modern threats on a school campus.

"During this year’s training exercise, a backpack containing an inert training device was left behind," Taylor said. "A student found the bag today and immediately took it to the on-site TPD School Resource Officer."

Administrators at the school issued a shelter-in-place order while police responded and ultimately determined that no hazardous materials or other dangerous items were present.

“We recognize the situation caused concern to students and families,” said Acting Chief Sebo Sanders. “Steps are being taken to ensure this is not repeated.”

No other details were available Friday afternoon.

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