Update 1/25/2012 5:20 P.M.

At approximately 3:40 p.m., Parkersburg police officers completed the drug sweep at PHS. The period the school was on actual lock down was approximately 9:20 a.m. to 11:15 a.m.

Statement by the Parkersburg Police Department:

Six (6) police canine teams from four (4) different agencies began the initial sweep this morning at around 9:20 a.m. Each canine team was accompanied by a detective from the Parkersburg Police Department. Lockers and vehicles were the focus of the proactive drug sweep. Wood County Prosecutor Jason Wharton was also on scene.

Four (4) juveniles were cited for misdemeanor possession of marijuana and released. Juvenile petitions will be prepared and forwarded to the Prosecutors Office for consideration. All four were a result of a vehicle search on the schools property. No illegal substances were located inside the school.

Police canine teams participated: Parkersburg Police Department, Ritchie County Sheriff’s Office, Zanesville (Ohio) Police Department, and Athens County (Ohio) Sheriff’s Office.

UPDATE: 1/25/2012 12:19 PM

Classes come to a halt as drug dogs search the building.

Parkersburg High School was on lock-down Wednesday morning as area police officials and their K9s worked their way through school grounds looking for drugs.

PHS Principal Pam Goots says the administration and police are sending a clear message of "no tolerance" to students.

Principal Goots says, "we take very seriously a safe, secure school environment for our students. The police department is always very cooperative with us. This is a request that I had just as a very random proactive approach. I want the students to know that we take this seriously and we are serious about having safe and secure school environment. "

Parkersburg Police Chief Joe Martin says prescription drugs and marijuana are usually the most commonly confiscated items.
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Parkersburg Police and drug dogs converged on Parkersburg High School.

Called a proactive drug sweeps, officers and school officials locked down the school at 9:20 Wednesday morning.

WTAP is covering the sweep and will have updates on what officer discovered throughout the day on WTAP.com and on WTAP News at Noon.