Intruder prompts changes to access

By Cecilia Negash CO-EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

MTHS staff, students and families were alerted to an unidentified adult woman entering the school building on Friday, Feb. 24 around 1:20 p.m. The individual appeared to be intoxicated and carrying around an alcoholic beverage, and remained in the building for about seven minutes, according to school officials. Since this incident, the main entrance doors have been locked during school hours. Students are now required to buzz in through the office speaker outside the doors in order to enter – even during the school day.

It was discovered that she interrupted a class in the music hallway by walking in mid-session and playing the piano. She also entered a school bathroom at one point. Staff responded quickly, escorting the woman off campus and notifying law enforcement. The woman was temporarily detained by the Mountlake Terrace Police. MTHS administrators are working with MTPD to press charges and obtain a criminal trespass notice.

Assistant Principal Daniel Falk sent an email to MTHS staff that afternoon, detailing the incident and providing pictures of the trespassing individual. It also included a thank you message and directions on what to do in case of another similar incident.

“We want to thank the staff who acted to identify the individual and remove her from our campus. This is a good reminder that the security of this building is each staff member’s responsibility. If you see an individual whom you do not recognize and who does not have a name or visitor’s badge, please direct them to the main office. If that individual is not cooperative, alert building administration immediately and don’t hesitate to call 911 to report an intruder,” Falk said.

An email was also sent to MTHS students and families later on the same day at 4:11 p.m. via ParentSquare explaining the situation. H