A frightening call to Lakeside Elementary in Plummer on Wednesday resulted in school lockdowns in the Plummer-Worley School District for more than three hours.

In a letter to district patrons, Superintendent Judi Sharrett said schools in the district were locked down around 9 a.m. after the elementary school received a call "stating a man was coming to the elementary and might have weapons."

The lockdown ended at 12:20 p.m. after the Tensed-area man was located at the Veterans Administration hospital in Spokane, said Plummer Police Chief Les Hall.

"He drove himself to the hospital to see his psychologist after talking to his wife," Hall said.

Hall said the man's wife, who is training with the Army in Texas, notified the elementary and Benewah County Sheriff's Office that her husband was having suicidal thoughts and that he owns guns.

"He told her that he was going to the school to pick up the kids," Hall said.

The man is the stepfather to three students at Lakeside Elementary, Hall said.

"He didn't threaten anybody other than himself," said Hall. "He was not arrested because he didn't commit any crimes."

Hall said it's unclear whether the man drove near the schools.

"He may not have even driven through Plummer to get to Spokane," Hall said.

Hall said the kids have been temporarily placed in a foster home. He said their stepfather was still at the hospital on Wednesday night being evaluated.

"He sped up the (mental evaluation) process by driving himself directly to the hospital," Hall said.

The Benewah County Sheriff's Office and Coeur d'Alene Tribal Police assisted Plummer during the situation.

"Everything was taken as a precaution," Hall said. "We've been practicing this for a long time, and everything turned out great."

Sharrett wrote that law enforcement agencies were swift in their response.

"The police asked us to stay on lockdown until the man was found," she wrote. "I assure you the police were quick to respond, professional in every way, kept an officer on site throughout the day and kept me informed as the situation unfolded."