ALPENA — The search for the suspect who allegedly tried to enter Ella White Elementary School with a gun on March 1 is still ongoing, but months later there are few clues as to who the man was and what his motivation was. According to police, the trail has gone cold and few tips about the case are being reported, making solving the case difficult.

Alpena Police Department Lt. Eric Hamp said there were many people interviewed the day of the incident and the days following. He said there also were many tips submitted after the suspect’s description was released. Despite that, Hamp said, only the primary witness saw the man and gun, and all of the other tips did not lead to finding the suspect.

“The investigation has kind of stalled, but it is still open,” Hamp said. “We were getting quite of few tips and we followed up on every single one. Now it has been quite some time since we have gotten one.”

Hamp said the primary witness was in the school and saw the suspect allegedly beating on the back door of the school while holding a pistol. He said her proximity to the door was close, although she couldn’t give a precise distance. He said there were many interviews conducted with others who were inside and outside of the school, but none of those interviewed saw the man or a weapon. Despite that, Hamp said the report is being taken seriously and the department is moving forward with the assumption there was a weapon, although there is no evidence to prove it yet.

“During investigations we can get many different stories or accounts, but unfortunately in this instance we didn’t have that,” he said. “Right now this is still an open case and we’ll continue to evaluate it and investigate any tips we might get. Right now, however, we haven’t had any tips come in recently and it is safe to say the investigation has slowed down.”

If the lack of information or tips continues, Hamp said Det. Steve Davis could recommend to Chief Joel Jett that the case be declared inactive and it would be Jett who would make the final determination on the status. Hamp said if that happens the case wouldn’t be closed and the investigation could begin again quickly if new information was to be found.

After the incident police increased its presence at all of the schools and an officer was stationed at Ella White during the school day for several days after. Hamp said police are still making periodic stops at the school and the increased patrols continue. He said he also encourages people to pay attention to what is going on around them and report anything that seems out of place.

“We ask that people continue to stay alert, not only near the schools, but in general, and if something doesn’t seem right or you see something suspicious please give us a call,” Hamp said. “We will most definitely respond and check things out.”

Steve Schulwitz can be reached via email at sschulwitz@thealpenanews.com or by phone at 358-5689. Follow Steve on Twitter ss_alpenanews.