Another school locked down

Published 10:51 pm Tuesday, February 10, 2015

Police say a man who prompted a lockdown at Suffolk Christian Academy on Tuesday was not the same one who caused a lockdown at Mack Benn Jr. Elementary School on Monday.

Suffolk Christian Academy, located inside Westminster Reformed Presbyterian Church on Godwin Boulevard, reported a “suspicious man” to police shortly after 8 a.m., according to Suffolk spokeswoman Diana Klink.

The independent school decided to lockdown the building when the man vanished after asking to use the restroom, Klink stated.

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After searching the premises, police determined the man had left prior to their arrival, and they cleared the school to reopen at 9:12 a.m.

While police are familiar with the black male that entered Mack Benn and refused to leave Monday afternoon, the Suffolk Christian Academy subject was described as a nicely dressed white male, according to Klink. “He only requested to use the restroom but school staff did not see him leave,” she added.

Mack Benn reopened after the 36-year-old man, whom police later found on Portsmouth Boulevard, was persuaded to leave by the principal.

Officers returned the man, whom they said has diminished mental capacity, safely to his residence, Klink stated.