St. Michael Catholic School Conducts Safety Investigation After Suspicious Item Found

Sunday, January 11, 2026 at 11:30 AM

By Kathy Bottorff

St. Michael Catholic School, on Center Street in Plymouth, was placed on a precautionary class hold this morning while law enforcement investigated a suspicious item found in a school hallway, principal Robin Coffman announced.

The incident was resolved by mid-morning with authorities confirming the school is safe and secure. Officials emphasized that students were never in danger.

At approximately 8:20 a.m., a teacher discovered an item in a school hallway that required further investigation by law enforcement. School administrators immediately placed the building on a class hold as a precautionary measure while authorities assessed the situation.

The Plymouth Police Department and Indiana Department of Natural Resources K-9 units responded to conduct a comprehensive sweep of the building. Working alongside St. Michael administration and staff, law enforcement searched hallways, bathrooms, student lockers, and backpacks.

At approximately 10 a.m., officials completed their investigation and cleared all areas of the school. Normal operations resumed shortly thereafter.

Authorities confirmed that the school is safe and secure. Officials stressed that at no time were students in danger during the incident.

"We are grateful for the prompt and professional response from the Plymouth Police Department and DNR, along with all of St. Michael staff, for their assistance in ensuring the safety of our students and community," Coffman stated in a letter to parents and media. "The safety and well-being of our school community remains our highest priority."

The school did not disclose the nature of the item found or additional details about the investigation.

Parents were notified of the incident this morning through official school communication channels.