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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowFBI agents raided the main offices and other buildings of the Vigo County School Corp. in Terre Haute on Wednesday, sending employees off the premises for hours.
The district later issued a statement saying it’s cooperating with authorities.
At least a dozen FBI agents entered the administrative offices about 9:20 a.m. and cordoned off the parking lot outside the offices. Employees were turned away at the district’s transportation center, WTHI-TV reported, and an Indiana State Police officer said a building there was on lockdown. FBI personnel were seen looking at a school bus and later removing about 40 boxes and computer towers. There was no immediate indication of the nature of the search or what agents were seeking.
FBI spokeswoman Cathy Burton said the agency was “conducting investigative activity in the Terre Haute area, the nature of which I can't disclose.”
The school corporation “received search warrants for three locations, the administration building, facilities support and information technology,” school corporation attorney Chuck Rubright told the Terre Haute Tribune Star, adding: “Our plan is to cooperate fully with U.S. attorney’s office.”
The school corporation also issued a statement, saying it “is fully cooperating with law enforcement and understands that there has been no formal identification by law enforcement of any VCSC employee as a target in this matter.”
School Superintendent Danny Tanoos left the main district offices about 10:45 a.m. and drove away without commenting to reporters. No telephone number was listed for him, and he could not be reached for comment.
Worker Doug Dillion said, “I thought someone was pranking me.” However, he realized that was not the case and he joined others leaving the building.
Another employee, Penny O’Brien, said she was told they would have to be out of the building for at least four hours.
Indiana State Police Sgt. Joe Watts said troopers “have been asked to accompany and assist the FBI in this matter” but he could not comment any further.
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