SWAT Team Called as Three Men Embark on Cross-Country Quest to Photograph Abandoned School

Three individuals were apprehended in Pittsburgh on Memorial Day once they were reportedly apprehended trespassing At an ancient middle school in Pennsylvania .

On Monday, police and SWAT Units were sent to Knoxville Junior High School on Charles Street, an institution that has been unoccupied since it shut down in the early 2000s.

A person who called mentioned observing three individuals go into the school. through a front window at around 3:45 pm.

Police supposedly discovered Sean Alvarez, Pearson Phillips, and Kai Ortiz at the location and have accused them of felony criminal trespassing.

A representative from the Pittsburgh Public Safety department stated WTAE that A SWAT team was summoned when the three suspected intruders did not heed the calls of law enforcement at the location.

"SWAT was summoned as the three individuals within the premises did not respond to the initial attempts at communication from the arriving officers. Given the circumstances and erring on the side of precaution, a SWAT deployment was deemed necessary," stated Eliza Durham from PPS.

Law enforcement officials state that the trio journeyed from Kansas and Illinois to Pittsburgh with the intent of entering the building and capturing images of its inside. They mentioned that investigating and documenting derelict buildings is an activity they all enjoy together.

Urban exploration entails individuals venturing into derelict structures or areas within cities where public access is typically restricted or uncommon. This can include tunnels, disused metro stations, and service passageways; however, the majority of such explorations usually take place in sizable, unused edifices like former educational institutions, correctional facilities, or shopping centers.

It's not clear whether the men were photographing for their own albums or capturing material for something else.

The city of Pittsburgh holds ownership of the school and has apparently put up no-trespassing signs at the location.

The police reported finding camera gear within the men’s bags, as per WTAE.

The three individuals are all waiting for their arraignment, and it remains uncertain when they will attend a preliminary hearing, as stated. CBS News .

The Independent has asked for input from the Pittsburgh police.

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