NAZARETH (AP) - Officials say discovery of a former employee's car at an eastern Pennsylvania middle school triggered a brief lockdown at that school and three others.

The Nazareth Area School District said the vehicle was spotted early Tuesday at Nazareth Area Middle School.

Superintendent Dennis Riker said the employee was dismissed Friday. He said in an email to parents that officials "weren't sure where he was or what his state of mind was," so a lockdown was instituted.

The district said security procedures were also put into effect at a nearby high school, elementary school and intermediate school.

Riker said the man was found and the lockdown lifted just before 9 a.m. Tuesday, about 40 minutes after it began. He said the man wasn't armed; it was unclear whether charges were expected.