Lafayette Police lock down Acalanes High, middle school due to “swatting” calls Monday

By Allen D. Payton

The Lafayette Police Department placed Acalanes High School and Stanley Intermediate School on lockdown Monday afternoon, Aug. 17, 2026, due to an anonymous called in threat.

At 12:59 p.m. and 1:29 p.m. the Department posted alerts on Nixle, a service that sends out text messages about critical events in the community, with links on the department’s Facebook page.

They read:

“Officers are working a potential threat that was called into Acalanes High School by an annomoyous [sic] automated call. The lock down is a precaution. Avoid the area. Updates will be sent via Nixle.

“Oficers [sic] are on site and have drones over the school.”

and

“POLICE ACTIVITY – Officers are at Stanley Intermediate School while they determine if there is a viable threat that was called in.   It appears to be a swatting call, but are taking it seriously.

Officers will remain on campus and updates will be sent via Nixle.

If you see something call 9-1-1

94549TIP@gmail.com
925-284-5010 24 hour dispatch.”

By 1:47 p.m. and 1:52 p.m. All Clear messages were posted.

They read:

“All Clear – Acalanes High School Lockdown has been lifted. officers have completed a thorough search of the school, campus clear.

UPDATE: School Campus Cleared

Law enforcement officers have completed a thorough search of the school and determined that the campus is clear. There is no active threat to students, staff, or the surrounding community.

Officers will remain on site as a precaution while the incident is investigated. Preliminary information indicates this was likely a ‘swatting’ call—a false report intended to prompt a large emergency response.

Thank you for your patience and cooperation.”

and:

“All Clear- Stanley Intermediate School lockdown has been lifted, officers have completed a search of the school.

UPDATE: School Campus Cleared

Law enforcement officers have completed a thorough search of the school and determined that the campus is clear. There is no active threat to students, staff, or the surrounding community.

Officers will remain on site as a precaution while the incident is investigated. Preliminary information indicates this was likely a ‘swatting’ call—a false report intended to prompt a large emergency response.

Thank you for your patience and cooperation.”

According to the FBI, “Swatting is the malicious tactic of making hoax calls or reports to emergency services, typically feigning an immediate threat to life. Swatting is intended to draw a large response from SWAT teams or other law enforcement resources to an unsuspecting victim’s location, causing chaos and the potential for injury or violence.

“Targets of swatting often include high-profile public figures, as well as schools, hospitals, places of worship, and centers of mass transportation, but anyone can be a victim. A swatting incident may be an isolated event targeting one victim or part of a larger coordinated effort to target multiple victims.”