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PONCHATOULA, La. (WGNO) –  Several different police department swept through Ponchatoula High School early Thursday morning after the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office received a “terrorist threat.” School officials closed the school and cancelled classes as a precaution. Ponchatoula High School Principal Danny Strickland told WGNO police didn’t find anything dangerous at the school and classes will resume Friday. A track meet and softball game set for Thursday afternoon will still take place. Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff Office detectives were acting on a call that came to the Ponchatoula Police Department about 5:28 a.m. Thursday. The call has been traced back to the Baylor Scott and White Medical Center in Carrollton, Texas. Authorities say the call lasted only 20 seconds. Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff Daniel Edwards is asking anyone with information regarding this incident to please contact Crime Stoppers at 800-554-5245. Principal Danny Strickland says when he got was notified about the threat he took action immediately. “First thing running through my head was that the bus routes were already in processions. Kids were being picked up at home and were being transported to school. To stop the delivery of any students on campus, I felt was first and foremost at that time,” Strickland said. A message was sent out through the school’s phone system, an app, and on their website. This was the message on the school’s website:
“In order to allow law enforcement to check the campus after receiving an anonymous threat this morning, Ponchatoula High School will be closed Thursday, April 7. Classes will resume on Friday, April 8, as normal.  All Elementary and Jr. High schools in Ponchatoula will be OPEN today.”
Approximately 40 law enforcement officers from the TPSO, LSP, HPD, PPD, Homeland Security, St. John Parish SO and St. Charles Parish deputies with Bomb Detector Dogs, Wildlife and Fisheries, along with school staff have been inside of the school conducting a thorough sweep of the building.