UPDATE: All three Atascadero schools released from lockdown after police search

UPDATE (4:26 p.m.) - The Atascadero Police Department says officers will continue to patrol the area where two students reported seeing a man with a rifle after a search of the area turned up empty.

Police say they received the report from North County Christian School on Wednesday afternoon. The students said they saw the armed man in the creek behind the school.

North County Christian, Atascadero High School, and Atascadero Middle School were placed on lockdown, and police requested the assistance of several other local agencies, including the California Highway Patrol, San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's Office, and Paso Robles Police Department.

Officers conducted a sweep of the creek and used a helicopter and drone to search the area but were unable to locate anyone.

During the search, several roads were closed to traffic and the Atascadero Farmers Market was canceled.

After about two hours, the school lockdowns were lifted and the roads were reopened.

Authorities are asking anyone with information about the subject of the search to call the Atascadero Police Department at (805) 461-5051.
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UPDATE (3:07 p.m.) - All three schools have been released from lockdown which was put in place after witnesses said they spotted a man with a rifle in the creek.

All areas are cleared and the suspect is no longer in the area, police said.

If anyone has any information about the subject, they are encouraged to contact the police department at (805) 461-5051.
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UPDATE (2:27 p.m.) - Police say two Atascadero schools have been released from lockdown which was put in place after witnesses say they spotted a man with a rifle in the creek.

Lockdown has been lifted for North County Christian School and Atascadero Middle School as of 2:12 p.m., police say.

Atascadero High School is still locked down.

Several roads in Atascadero have reopened, but closures remain in a section west of Hwy 101. Closures are north of Curbaril Ave., south of Santa Ynez Ave. and El Camino Real, east of Devon Court and west of El Camino Real.

Police are still active in the area.
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UPDATE (1:38 p.m.) - Atascadero Police confirmed reports that an individual was seen in the creek with a firearm, according to a tweet the department shared Wednesday afternoon.

North County Christian, Atascadero High School and Atascadero Middle School remain on lockdown.

Police announced road closures are in place, and they are urging people to to avoid the area.

Closed areas are on both sides of Hwy 101 north of Curbaril Ave., south of Capistrano Ave. and San Marcos Rd., east of Traffic Way and west of Atascadero Ave.

A map of road closures is available online.

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(12:59 p.m.) - Atascadero High School, Atascadero Middle School, and North County Christian School were placed on lockdown Wednesday afternoon.

A school district official said the lockdown was at the request of the Atascadero Police Department due to police activity in the area.

A city spokesperson said two students at North County Christian reported seeing a man with a rifle in the creek area behind the school. Police also received another call about someone with a rifle in the area.

Officers are reportedly now on scene, doing a sweep of the area to try to locate the alleged suspect.

KSBY News has a crew headed to the scene. This story will be updated as more information becomes available.