MOSES LAKE – Tuesday afternoon, Moses Lake School District middle school cross country athletes told the police they had been threatened by a man with a gun while on a training run, according to a statement from the Moses Lake Police Department. An investigation has found those claims to be false.

The students were on the railroad trestle between Milwaukee Avenue and Montlake Park. After the police were called regarding the alleged threat, the students were taken back to Frontier Middle School. The Moses Lake School District called the parents of nearly 60 students, MLSD Director of Public Relations Ryan Shannon said.

As a result of the report, MLPD and the Grant County Sheriff’s Office began investigating the incident and found no evidence of the alleged threat, according to a statement from MLPD. 

On Wednesday, officers continued the investigation and discovered that the information provided to officers was not truthful. MLPD believes no criminal incident took place. 

A report is to be filed with the juvenile prosecutor for consideration of charges of false reporting on the student or students who knowingly provided the officers with false information. MLSD is following internal policy to determine if any disciplinary action should be taken against the students involved.

“The Moses Lake School District learned today the outcome of the ongoing investigation conducted by the Moses Lake Police Department and is reviewing the matter in accordance with school policies,” Shannon said.