A group of R.C. Hatch High School students caused a national news frenzy with reports of a gorilla sighting near Newbern this weekend.

A group of baseball players headed back to Uniontown from a game phoned 911 at approximately 7:30 p.m. Saturday reporting to having seen a gorilla at the intersection of Highway 61 and County Road 20 in Newbern.

The Hale County Sheriff’s Office, inundated with calls from news agencies around the country, released a statement Tuesday saying that they took the report and subsequent investigation seriously as part of protocol.

“Deputies responded and checked the area,” the release stated. “No gorilla or other large primate was located. The Hale County Sheriff’s Office answers all calls for service in a professional and serious manner. This call, like all others, was investigated and until further evidence is discovered we consider this matter to be unfounded.”