Valparaiso University students ordered to 'shelter in place' on hostage report

VALPARAISO — Valparaiso University students were ordered to "shelter in place" after authorities received a report of a potential hostage situation on campus.

However, an initial investigation did not turn up any criminal activity.

Valparaiso spokeswoman Nicole Niemi says the Porter County Sheriff's Department received a call late Tuesday indicating there was a potential hostage situation in the university's Christopher Center for Library and Information Services. Police were dispatched and the library was sealed to prevent access.

Niemi says that while a notice of "shelter in place" was issued, an initial sweep of the building did not turn up any evidence of a hostage situation or a shooting.