Students at Dobie Middle School pass through the hallway in between classes on Monday, April 14, 2025. The school has received three consecutive F ratings, according to state academic standards, and is likely to receive a fourth this year. A fifth would allow the state to take over the district, so to prevent that from occurring, the district will likely close the school this year.
Baldwin Hills, California – Classes were canceled Friday at Olive Middle School in Baldwin Park after a disturbing and unusual incident unfolded on campus the day before, involving a staff member who barricaded herself inside a school building for several hours.
The Baldwin Park Unified School District (BPUSD) announced the closure late Thursday night, citing the need to continue cooperating with law enforcement during the ongoing investigation. The incident began around 9:45 a.m. Thursday when a female staff member allegedly caused a disturbance in the school’s main office, prompting a swift evacuation of all students and staff.
The woman, identified through school records as a 6th-grade math and science teacher, reportedly remained barricaded inside the building for much of the day. The situation escalated as SWAT teams, including a BearCat tactical vehicle and K-9 units, surrounded the campus and negotiated with the woman well into the evening.
Authorities have not officially confirmed whether the woman was armed. However, the tense standoff continued for hours, with officers eventually deploying tear gas and forcibly breaching a door before taking the woman into custody. She was handcuffed and transported by ambulance for medical evaluation. No injuries were reported among students or staff.
Adding to the confusion, a video surfaced on social media in which the woman claimed she was being held hostage inside the building. She identified the location as Olive Middle School, and the image in the video matched her profile photo on the school’s official website.
During the lockdown, students and staff were safely relocated to nearby Walnut Elementary School. BPUSD expressed gratitude to the school community for their cooperation and emphasized that mental health support is available for anyone impacted by the ordeal.
“We continue to work closely with law enforcement agencies to secure the campus,” the district said in a statement. “The safety of our students and staff remains our highest priority.”
Classes at Olive Middle School are expected to resume Monday, May 5. All other schools in the district remained open Friday.
As the investigation continues, many questions remain unanswered about the motives behind the incident and the mental state of the staff member involved.
