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10/07/2016 12:00 AMSchool buses transporting students at Madison Public Schools were delayed an hour this afternoon while school officials coordinating with local police. A heavy police presence in North Madison prompted the delayed departure.
Madison Police, Connecticut State Police, and officers from surrouding towns, were in the area searching for a possibly armed man wanted in several states.
Madison Police Captain Joseph Race said that it was safe for students to return to their homes via bus.
"There is a tremendous police presence in the area so we felt that it was safe for the kids to return home," he said.
Race said the manhunt is still underway, but there is no lead on the current location of the suspect.
"We are going to start from the beginning and go through an area that we first saw him go into," he said. "Now we are trying to focus even more on that smaller area. We are trying to cover thousands of square acres of ground right now."
A new group of police K-9's were brought in just before 3 p.m. to help continue the search. Race said over 50 police officers from across the shoreline are helping locate the suspect. However, the officers are starting to run out of daylight hours.
"There will definitely be a change in resources once it gets dark," he said. "Right now we are actively working on that plan and I am sure we are going to find the resources to stay on this."
Thomas Scarice, superintendent of Madison Public Schools, sent out an e-notify alert to parents just before 1 p.m. on Friday, saying they are working with the Madison Police Department to determine the best way to handle afternoon transportation and activities:
"Important Update. The following is an e-notify update: We are currently working closely with the Madison Police Department to assess the safety of our afternoon transportation and activities. We will inform parents as soon as possible with a decision regarding transportation and after school activities. If we are informed that this matter is resolved we will conduct our normal afternoon procedures. In the event of the need to delay transportation home, all students will remain under the care of the staff and administration of the Madison Public Schools until we are advised to release students."
Another alert went out shortly before 2 p.m. as Scarice noted that buses would be delayed a minimum of one hour:
"Moments ago we were advised by the Madison Police Department to avoid travel by our buses through a section of North Madison. This will impact all levels of transportation. All students riding buses will be delayed by a minimum of one hour. We were advised by the MPD that parents may pick up their students at their schools. A team of administrators and staff will remain to supervise all students in the building. After school Beach and Rec after care will operate as normal. However, all students will remain in the building. More information will be provided as we receive it."
An 3 p.m. alert followed, informing parents that normal bus route transportation would resume:
"We were just informed by the Madison Police Department that it is now safe to transport our students and we may resume normal bus route transportation. We anticipate a delay in bus transportation by one hour. A team of administrators and staff will remain at each school until each student has been dismissed. At no time will your child be without adult supervision. You may pick up your child. Beach and Rec after care will resume as regularly scheduled. Brown Middle School after school programs and intramurals have been cancelled. Other schools will resume normal after school activities. Thank you for your patience in this matter."
As of 5:30 p.m., the search continued, according to First Selectman Tom Banisch, in a recorded message from town hall.
"Good Afternoon. This is First Selectman Tom Banisch," he said in the recording. "As you may be aware, the Town of Madison Police Department and the Connecticut State Police began a search this morning for a man considered "wanted and possibly dangerous". The search has been focused in the area of Route 80 and Walnut Hill Road. Residents of this area were alerted when the situation arose and they were told to remain in their homes and lock their doors. Two schools in the area were also placed on modified lock-down. As of 4:00 p.m. this afternoon, the suspect is still at-large; but the various Police Departments involved feel it is contained to this particular area. We are encouraging residents of this area to be cautious. As is usual in a case like this, the police have been handling the communications for the sake of not hampering their investigation."
He ended with the admonition, "be safe."