ELLENDALE — A man made a threatening comment at a business in this town, prompting the lockdown of the elementary school, according to a news release from the Steele County Sheriff’s Office.

The release states the man left the business. Sheriff’s deputies later spoke with him at his home in the 500 block of School Street in Ellendale.

“While gathering information on this individual, it became apparent that the situation was a medical issue,” the release states.

The release said no arrest was made and the incident remains under investigation. Neither the man’s name nor the comment he made were released.

Because of the proximity to New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva Elementary School in Ellendale, school and sheriff’s officials decided to lock the school down.

NRHEG Superintendent Kevin Wellen termed it a “soft lockdown.”

The lockdown went into effect at 8:10 a.m. and ended at 10:16 a.m., he said.

Eight classrooms were evacuated to other parts of the school building. No one was admitted to the building.

“Classes did continue but students were escorted by adults,” Wellen said.