UPDATE: Oswego 308 IT Contractor Arrested For Gun Found in OEHS

3:20 p.m.

District 308 Superintendent Matthew Wendt released a statement Wednesday afternoon stressing that Martin is not employed by the district.

"Mr. Martin is not a School District 308 employee," Wendt said. " He is employed by Sterling Engineering, which is a network engineering company that has been contracted to work on computer networks throughout School District 308. Mr. Martin was the only Sterling Engineering employee who had been assigned to School District 308, and had been working in the district since late April 2013. Prior to his assigned work with School District 308, Mr. Martin went through a comprehensive background check conducted by the FBI."

Wendt's statement went on:

"I want to extend my gratitude to an alert staff at Oswego East High School and all employees involved in the discovery of the handgun and subsequent investigation. I also want to extend my appreciation to Oswego Police Chief Dwight Baird and the Oswego Police Department. Chief Baird and members of his department were at Oswego East High School and partnered with School District 308. We have found no reason to believe that a student or staff member was in danger at any time and all School District 308 protocols and Board of Education policies for this type of incident were followed."

The full statement can be read here.

1:50 p.m.

A man has been arrested in the OEHS incident that occurred Wednesday morning when a gun was found in a faculty restroom, said Oswego police.

Michael T. Martin, 62, of the 25000 block of Cove Court, Plainfield, was arrested and charged with the unlawful use of a weapon with an added enhancement because the gun was on school property, which made it a Class 3 Felony. 

Martin is contracted to work with the Oswego 308 District IT department.

A gun was found in a secured faculty restroom at 9:12 a.m. at Oswego East by an OEHS staff member. The school was put into lockdown for safety while Oswego police conducted a thorough search of the building. 

Martin was booked at the Oswego Police Department and transported to Kendall County Jail to await a bond hearing from a Kendall County Judge.

11:40 a.m.

Oswego Police have detained a subject in relation with the lockdown incident at Oswego East this morning.

During the initial investigation of the handgun located at Oswego East High School, the Oswego Police Department with assistance from the Oswego East High School staff were able to conduct a very quick review of in school video footage and interview different staff members to assist in determining who was last in the faculty restroom.

During this investigation, the identity of a subject who was last in the restroom was determined and that subject was located off site for an interview.

Police have determined that this individual was the person who left the handgun in the restroom. The subject is currently detained by the Oswego Police Department and the case is still under investigation.

The case will be reviewed with the Kendall County State’s Attorney’s Office for approval of charges.

The Oswego Police Department would like to commend the staff of the Oswego East High School for their quick response to this incident and following procedures to lockdown and notify police.

At this time, there is no evidence that this subject had any intentions on doing anyone any harm.

11:10 a.m.

The  lockdown at Oswego East this morning was the result of a handgun found in the building, according to Oswego Police.

OEHS went into lockdown shortly after 9:12 a.m. following the discovery of a handgun by a staff member in a secured faculty restroom on the second floor of the building. 

Police said as a safety precaution the school was put on  lockdown to ensure the safety of students and staff.

A search of the building and premises was conducted and no further weapons or items of a suspicious nature were located.

Staff was allowed to continue to teach during the search.

At approximately 10:15 a.m. police said the lockdown was terminated and school activities resumed.

The incident is under investigation by the Oswego Police Department and Oswego 308 School District. 

Oswego 308 Director of Communications and Public Relations Brian Graves said that the lockdown was a precaution.

"No students or staff were in any danger," he said. 

He said there were also no drug busts at the school.

11:02 a.m.

Parents told Patch on Facebook that the lockdown seems to now be over. Parents also said that the lockdown seemed to be over a hand gun found at the school. 

There is still no official word on the cause the lock down.

Patch will update when more information is available. 

10:38 a.m.

Patch has received multiple reports from parents regarding a lockdown at Oswego East High School happening right now. 

There are reportedly police officers at both entrances of the school.

Patch has been unable to receive official word on what the lockdown is for.

Students have taken to Twitter and are saying the incident is a drug bust, although that is unconfirmed as of now. 

Stay tuned with Patch for further updates.