SCARBOROUGH, Maine — Scarborough High School was locked down Thursday morning after a man entered the school in search of specific teachers and refused to identify himself.
Detective Sgt. Rick Rouse of the Scarborough Police Department told the Bangor Daily News on Thursday afternoon the police ultimately determined the individual, whom he declined to name, was not a threat. He said the man graduated from the school “a couple of years” ago and doesn’t have a history of violence or making trouble.
“I think he suffers from mental issues as well,” Rouse said. “I don’t know if he really understood he wasn’t supposed to be there.”
Rouse said the man was given a trespassing notice by police.
Scarborough High School Principal Dean Auriemma wrote in an email to students, parents and staff that the man arrived at the school at approximately 8:40 a.m., “walked into our foyer and asked to see specific teachers.”
“The individual refused to identify himself and when asked to sit and wait told the receptionist that he was going to do whatever he wanted then entered the building,” Auriemma wrote.
The receptionist immediately notified the administration using a two-way radio system. Police were called and, because it was nearly time for students to move between classes, students were secured in classrooms.
The man, who was not recognized by school officials, was located in the building and held until Scarborough police arrived.
Students were released from their classrooms after the man was removed from the school.
“We were back to normal operating procedure in under five minutes,” Auriemma wrote.
The principal wrote that “while no students were in danger, this type of situation does pose a possible threat.” He added that the police agreed to maintain a presence at the school for the remainder of the day “as well as the days to come.”
I understand the severity of what COULD have happened, had everyone not reacted as swiftly as they did. I’m wondering though, why the criminal trespass charges? Is it because he refused to identify himself, or something else? What exactly is the definition of criminal trespass?
Part of the Maine criminal statute considers criminal tresspass to be if a persons “Remains in any place in defiance of a lawful order to leave that was personally communicated to that person by the owner or another authorized person”. He was told by the school staff not to enter the school further, but defied that instruction, that constitutes criminal trespass.
Thank you very much for taking the time to explain it to me in a non-demeaning manner. I appreciate it!
It does not say he was charged with Criminal Trespass, he was given a trespass order. That is not a charge, just a simple document ordering the individual not to return to the school.
The article has been revised since it first appeared. It did
say he was being charge with Criminal Trespass in the first draft.
Maybe since he told the secretary that “he was going to do whatever he wanted to do” might get the school to think maybe he should not be coming around? I am sure the school/police had their reasons. Unfortunately, these are crazy times we live in.
Don’t know yet what his intentions were, but great system at the school. Kudos.
“He said the individual is with the Scarborough Police
and will be charged with criminal trespass.”
Why would they charge one of their own? Is it actually that he is in the custody of the Scarborough Police?
By “with” they mean at the police station, not he works for them…
Good call, it appears the Principal Dean if quoted correctly should brush up on his possesive use of nouns.
i think you missed the sarcasm…….
His questioning the issues issue both ways seems to indicate otherwise.
and waiting for the rest of the Story.
i like how i read this story in the BDN, and not the PPH!!!!! oh wait the PPH doesn’t have reportes, they only copy stories from other sources…