An exterior lockdown was in place Friday morning at Moniteau High School as a precaution while state police were investigating a suspicious vehicle near the school.

Superintendent Sean Arney said classes continued on the normal schedule, but no one was permitted to leave the building and the entrance to the school was being controlled.

“We have state police investigating a suspicious vehicle off property,” Arney said.

Capt. Steve Ignatz of the State Police barracks in Butler said that a van was spotted around lunchtime near school property, and was approached by school officials.

The operator told the officials he was there to pick up a student, but left when he was questioned.

Ignatz said the van then returned to school property, and was approached this time by school police.

The driver left again, but the van was soon found in a cemetery along Route 138 near the high school.

Ignatz said police arrested the man for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

“He is now in State Police custody,” Ignatz said.

While he could not divulge any information about the driver because the matter is under investigation, he noted that the man holds a driver's license from Carnegie, Allegheny County.

Ignatz believes he might have origins in Butler County.

A marked state police cruiser patrolled the area of Moniteau High School for the remainder of the school day on Friday, he said.

The lockdown remained in place at the school until police cleared the scene, according to Arney.