“He was at the entrance trying to get someone’s attention,” said Officer Montafix Houghton. “He got discouraged and was going to leave. He turned around though and got a student’s attention and they let him in.”

On Wednesday November 25, the day before Thanksgiving, a suspicious man entered South Kingstown High School after a student opened a door for the intruder at the bus entrance facing the Hazard School.

The man was later seen on the third floor after he poked his head into Mrs. Kennedy’s English class. The intruder stopped in three different classrooms during his trespass at the school.

Assistant Principal Mr. Cronin and Principal Mr. McCarthy got the call and immediately walked around the school trying to find the offender. When they could not find anything, Mr. Cronin made the decision to put the school into a lock down.

“Mr. Cronin handled the situation well,” said McCarthy.

Cronin is head of the crisis control at SKHS. 

“We never want a lock down,” said McCarthy, “but you always have to err on the side of caution.”

Local authorities later apprehended the intruder on Main Street.  Trespass charges were dropped, however, and the early 20’s male was issued a warning.     

During his trespass at the school, the intruder “had a conversation with a substitute,” said Principal Mr. McCarthy, and “he tried to solicit drugs from the substitute.”

His final stop came in World language teacher Mrs. Wojciechowski’s Spanish IV class. The class was holding a fiesta when the intruder stopped in before leaving the building.   

“He seemed to be intoxicated or disoriented in some way,” said McCarthy.

Video recordings showed that the intruder entered the building drinking out of a cup, which authorities believe contained alcohol.

 “He was not a threat in terms of a violent offender,” said Officer Monty. “He was in police terms HBD (has been drinking).”

Officer Monty and Principal McCarthy both emphasized that students should not let strangers into the building.

“Don’t be nice, let them get in on their own,” said Officer Monty, “Same goes for wedging the door in auditorium with book bags or rocks. It creates opportunity for intruder to come in the building, even though they may have good intention it could bring negative results.”

“There is a reason the doors are locked,” said McCarthy. “It’s to follow protocol.”