A part of a photographer’s backdrop left behind near a Brier Terrace Middle School parking lot led to students and staff of the school being told to stay inside classrooms Wednesday morning as members of the Brier Police Department determined the situation did not pose a danger to anyone.

The incident began about 10 a.m. when what Edmonds School District personnel described as “a strange object” was found outside the south end of the middle school. Brier police, including Chief Donald Lane, were called to secure the site.

“Chief Lane did have a dog come in to sniff for explosives before moving it,” said Brier Mayor Bob Colinas. The object was determined to be a pipe utilized to help secure a backdrop used earlier in the week for school pictures.

The incident briefly disrupted class schedules at the middle school on Wednesday. “Students continued in second period classes in order to stay over 100 feet from the object,” BTMS Principal Alex Alexander wrote in an informational letter sent home to students’ families. “The police identified the object as safe around 10:30 a.m. and students moved on to third period and the rest of the school schedule normally,” Alexander explained.

“We are just pleased it was not a threat to students or staff and greatly appreciate the response of Brier Police and other agencies that assisted,” said school district Community Relations Manager DJ Jakala.

— Story by Doug Petrowski