Police arrested a 36-year-old man at South Orangetown Middle School June 9, after the man, who was carrying a handgun, was wrestled to the floor and pinned down by the district superintendent, according to the Associated Press.
Around 11:45 a.m., Peter Crocker, a retired New York City police officer, walked on to campus and confronted South Orangetown Central School District Superintendent Ken Mitchell. According to news reports, Crocker was upset with the district’s policy regarding swine flu; the district would not close its schools because the illness is known to be a community disease. Crocker, himself, has a sick child enrolled at the school; however, the child has not been tested for swine flu.
Mitchell was able to talk the former policeman down, wrestle him to the ground and seize the weapon. No one was hurt.
During the incident, the 800-student school was locked down until 2:20 p.m. A SWAT team and several police agencies sent in units to assist. Parents were allowed to retrieve their children after signing for them. Additionally, other schools in the district would not let anyone on to school grounds.
Crocker was jailed and charged with kidnapping, coercion and burglary. He did not have a lawyer to represent him nor was a plea deal entered.
The district is providing counseling for students and staff.
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