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Officers from the Darien Police Department were contacted by staff members at Middlesex Middle School at approximately 11 a.m. on Tuesday morning, regarding a suspicious person who was on the school grounds.
According to police, the staff members monitoring students at recess reported that Robert Houseworth, who is reportedly homeless, was shouting at the children, leading them to advise the Campus Monitor and school administrators of the incident, who contacted local law enforcement for intervention.
Police said that school administrators quickly responded and recess was canceled for the day to allow police to investigate. The Campus Monitor then made contact with Houseworth, following him, providing a description to police and offering him directions as he left school grounds.
Several officers responded to the area and Houseworth was found in the rear of the school campus. Police said that he is homeless and has been the subject of several police interviews previously.
Houseworth denied having any contact with the children at the school; however, he did admit to being on school grounds, police said. Further investigation determined that Houseworth did yell at or toward the students, which was witnessed by staff members. It was later determined that “some of the children were ‘scared’ and ‘visibly shaken’ as a result of Houseworth’s actions.
Following the interviews, Houseworth was taken into custody and charged with breach of peace. He remains in the custody of the Darien Police Department in lieu of $1,000 bond. He is due back in Darien Justice Court on April 6 to answer the charge.
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