Panther Valley high school and middle school students were on lockdown this morning and then were sent home because of a threat.

Mark Nalesnik, Carbon County Emergency Management Agency director, said the students were dismissed early, and that everything was done in the interest of everyone's safety.

Nalesnik said the incident was the result of "some sort of threat," and that it remains an "open and ongoing investigation."

He said the building was also going to be searched by several law enforcement, K9 units, and state police.

Jack Soberick, Lansford Borough police chief, said police responded to a "threat against the safety of the school and students."

Soberick said they then activated their response plan to ensure the safety of the students, staff, and teachers.

He said this was the result of cooperative effort with Jim Thorpe police, who received the anonymous threat through an email tip line, as they provided them with the initial information that triggered the response.

Soberick said that upon arrival, they activated the plan for the overall safety of the students.

He said it was a generalized threat, adding that he was assigned to be press officer in this case by Summit Hill Police Chief Joseph Fittos.

Soberick said they checked every student to make sure they were safe when they were leaving.

"The teachers and staff were fantastic," he said.

In addition to Lansford and Jim Thorpe police, also assisting were the Summit Hill, Nesquehoning and South Whitehall police departments, as well as Pennsylvania State Police and Carbon County EMA.

Soberick said that after 11 a.m., police responded to the 300 block of W. Kline Avenue for a fight in progress.

He said the fight involved students and parents, and that there were eight people physically fighting at the time.

Soberick said he believes the fight was just an ongoing incident due to hatred of each other.

He said no injuries were reported.

However, Soberick said police had one person, a parent, in custody and being charged.

Coaldale Police Department also assisted in the matter, he said.