The principal said there was no danger to students or staff.
TRINITY, N.C. — A man has been arrested and charged after entering Hopewell Elementary School, according to the Randolph County Sheriff's Office.
The school was placed on a modified lockdown after the man went into the building on Feb. 26.
Parents are still upset over the situation, many questioning how the man was able to get into the building to begin with.
Nicole Strait is a Hopewell Elementary parent and said she was at the school when this happened, hearing the interaction between the man and school officials.
"At first he was saying he was there to request his records and I believe it was the assistant principal asked him if he was asking for himself and he said yes, and then he kind of tried to backpedal saying that he knows that he wasn't supposed to be there, that he didn't want to get in trouble, and that he was just gonna leave, that he didn't want to cause any issues and they sat there and questioned him," Strait said.
Other parents weighed in with their concerns following this entire ordeal.
One mother let her son, who's a student at Hopewell Elementary speak to us.
"It's just kind of crazy that it's so like free for people to just walk in, and they could have a weapon or harm somebody or kidnap somebody or abduct somebody, you know what I mean," ten-year-old Elijah Pierce said.
Deputies said photos of the man were obtained from the school and later identified 36-year-old Neal McMann as the suspect. He initially denied his identity and began to fight with deputies while being taken into custody.
While searching McMann, deputies found methamphetamine and other drugs.
McMann was transported to the Randolph County Detention Center and charged with felony possession of methamphetamine, misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia, and misdemeanor resisting a public officer. He was issued a $10,000 secured bond.
McMann was served an outstanding Post-Release Commission warrant by North Carolina Probation and Parole for absconding supervision in Davidson County. He will be held without bond on this charge until a preliminary hearing is conducted within seven days.
McMann also faces additional charges of misdemeanor first-degree trespassing and misdemeanor breaking or entering in connection with his unauthorized entry into the school. He was issued a $5,000 secured bond for these charges and is scheduled to appear in court on Feb. 28.
Randolph County Schools has prohibited McMann from being on all school district properties. In response to the incident, additional deputies and school resource officers have been stationed at Hopewell Elementary School, according to the sheriff’s office.
The school’s modified lockdown began at 9:11 a.m. and was lifted by 9:58 a.m. on Feb. 26, according to a phone message sent to parents by the principal.
During a modified lockdown, all exterior doors are secured, and movement outside classrooms is restricted and supervised by staff. The principal said there was no danger to students or staff at any time.