Arizona Parents Arrest for Trying to Get in a Locked-Down School

PHOENIX — Three parents from Arizona were arrested by police after trying to enter a school. The arrests came after an armed man tried to gain entry to the campus.

The parents were trying to reach their children in order to protect them from being attacked by the police, officials said. Authorities said that officers in El Mirage, Phoenix used Taser to arrest two parents who tried to protect their children from a handgun-wielding man.

The scene at Thompson Ranch Elementary School was almost three months old after hundreds of Uvalde, Texas law enforcement officers failed to respond for over an hour when a gunman shot two teachers and 19 student.

There were no shots fired at Thompson Ranch. The school was not breached. A woman who suffered Taser injuries by officers trying to stop her attack on them was taken to the hospital.

By time parents were confronted, the police had confirmed there wasn’t a threat and removed the suspicious package. They also planned to start reuniting the parents with their children, El Mirage police Lieutenant Jimmy Chavez stated.

However, the school was still under lockdown. This meant that no one could enter the campus according to protocols the police and school district had established. The school was locked down when parents became upset and demanded entry to their children’s schools. Authorities said that they were ready for them to confront police.

” Several parents continued to agitate, making several statements about their plans to visit campus in order to protect their children,” Chavez stated. As a parent, I can understand this philosophy. But, the procedures law enforcement and school followed .”

Chavez stated that a man tried to push past police officers, and while officers were arresting him, officers called for help from a couple who also confronted officers. They were also subdued by officers using a Taser. A gun was dropped to the ground as the first man was taken into custody.

The armed parent faces a weapons offense – guns cannot be carried on school grounds. Also, a disorderly conduct case. Unspecified charges will be brought against the parents for being stunned by the Taser. Chavez stated that the woman was transported by ambulance to a hospital. They could not immediately be identified.

The incident started at 10: 30 Friday morning when school officials called the police to report that an individual, possibly with a gun and trying to enter a school building locked, attempted to gain entry. Chavez stated that he was unable to get into the school and was chased by staff.

Officers searched the school for suspicious packages and called Chavez a bomb squad. They then moved some of the children to another area.

After parents started arriving, confrontations began with officers. Parents “forcefully pushing” officers to allow them to enter campus .”

” Parents need to know that when school is locked down and the police are on scene, no one is allowed to enter campus,” Chavez stated.

Chavez stated that the lockdown procedure between the school district administration and the law was “worked up to a T .”

Police eventually located the suspect in the lockdown. The man was being assessed by mental health professionals late Friday night. A police statement stated that charges were in the works .,

Saturday’s attempts to contact El Mirage Police to obtain additional information weren’t immediately successful.

Read More