UPDATED: Chaparral High Campus Deemed Safe After Suspicious Device Scare

UPDATED 5:30 p.m.: Upon investigation, Temecula police further described the device that prompted a lockdown and student evacuation Friday at Chaparral High School as "a harmless storage tube filled with paper, and the students were never in danger."

UPDATED AT 12:42 p.m.: School and police officials have provided more information about an incident that put Chaparral High School on lockdown Friday.

Temecula police responded to the campus shortly after 10:10 a.m. Friday when "a plastic pipe-looking device was located in the quad area of campus," said Sgt. Dean Spivacke.

The sergeant described the item as similar to a section of PVC pipe.

"(We) responded and determined it could be a suspicious device, so our Hazardous Device Team responded."

While the device was investigated, Spivacke said about half the students—1,400—were evacuated onto the football field and the school was placed on lockdown mode.

"The Hazardous Device Team X-rayed the device and determined it was not a hazardous device," Spivacke said.

The campus was deemed safe as of 11:57 a.m.

Chaparral Assistant Principal Michael Zides also provided information about how the campus handled the situation.

"We went into evacuation mode first, and then in to lock down. They were evacuated away from the scene as law enforcement advised," Zides told Patch.

Students near the area were moved to the campus theater and gymnasium, he explained. Classes located further from the scene were locked down.

"We did allow students to use their cellphones to call their parents," he said. "I can't say enough about law enforcement today—they were incredible. They responded right away and have been so professional."

Zides also praised students and parents.

"They were very respectful and understood the urgency of the situation."

Zides said he and other school staff talked with parents who camped out across the street waiting for word.

Homeland security was also at the scene, but declined comment.

Chaparral junior Gabriela Torres described the situation on campus. She said a school official told her class there was a bomb threat and the campus was on lock down.

"We were freaked out," she said. "It's crazy. We don't want to be on campus now."

Angel Elizondo, a junior, was in a weight-training class when he got word. He was moved into the gymnasium and placed on lockdown.

His worried grandmother got news of the situation from her grandson. Amalia Elizondo is on child-sitting duty while Angel's parents are on a trip to Cancun.

"I didn't know what I was going to do," she said. "I texted them and they were so worried. I told them it's going to be OK now—at least I hope it's OK."

UPDATED AT 12:08 p.m.: The lockdown at Chaparral High School was lifted as of 12:06 p.m. according to Temecula Valley Unified School District's Facebook page.

UPDATED AT 12:04 p.m.: Parents of Chaparral High School students were asked not to come to the school to pick up their student at this time, the Temecula Valley Unified School District posted on its Facebook page.

"The police do not want students coming onto or leaving campus. We will alert you when traffic onto and off of campus resumes," the district wrote.

UPDATED AT 11:23 a.m.: Police are investigating reports Friday of a suspicious device found at Chaparral High School in Temecula.

According to Riverside County Sheriff's Deputy Albert Martinez, the device is being investigated at press time and the sheriff's Hazardous Device Team has been notified.

The unknown device was reported to police at 10:11 a.m., Martinez said.

There are no reports of injuries and it's unclear what part of the campus the device was found.

Temecula Valley Unified School District spokeswoman Melanie Norton said all students and staff are safe.

"Chaparral High School is currently on lock-down due to a suspicious package found on campus. Police are on the scene and investigating. All students and staff are clear from danger," she said.

Check back for updates.