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The Hyattsville Police Department received a call from a staff member at Northwestern High School shortly before 12:15 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 14, to alert officers of a suspicious man on school grounds who appeared to be recording students on the football field.
An officer assigned to the building as a school resource officer and security responded to the area as the man began walking toward the front of the school, a spokesperson from the department said, noting that he had a suspicious bulge under his clothes that were consistent with a weapon.
When asked about it, the man began to get cagey and backed away, and when the officers attempted to grab him, he took out a pair of 10-inch nunchucks and began twirling them about and making threats, according to investigators.
The officer then took out his gun, ordered the man to drop the weapon, and called for backup.
According to police, the man complied and dropped the nunchucks, but as a second officer attempted to arrest him, he struck him and attempted to break away before ultimately being apprehended.
The investigation determined that the 48-year-old Chillum man - whose name was not released - is a parent of a student and had been filming activity on the football field because he was angry about students being out of class and unsupervised, investigators said.
Following the incident, the man complained of back pain and was taken to the hospital. The officers and school personnel were not injured.
He was charged with:
- Dangerous weapon on school property;
- Disorderly conduct;
- Second-degree assault;
- School disruption;
- Failure to obey a reasonable and lawful order.
It's the second incident involving weapons at Northwestern High School in as many days after a student was busted with brass knuckles and bullets on Tuesday, Sept. 13.
“Due to the quick response by officers and security, the issue was resolved before a lockdown could be initiated,” the spokesperson noted.
“This incident highlights the importance of ‘see something, say something,’ and we thank the staff member for quick notification when something did not seem right, as well as the quick response by officers and security.
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