One person was arrested following an incident Friday that resulted in an exterior lockdown of Moniteau High School in northern Butler County.
William Russell, 36, who is apparently homeless, is facing multiple charges and remains in the Butler County Prison.
Russell is accused of driving a vehicle onto the grounds of the school on Friday morning. According to court documents, a teacher saw the vehicle in the south lot and saw a man in the driver’s seat about 6:40 a.m. and approached the van.
“The teacher asked the male what he needed and the male advised he was a parent and has a sick child that was on the school bus and he was there to pick him up,” according to a police criminal complaint.
The male then allegedly drove to the front of the school and parked for a brief time, then left school property. The teacher then informed school security, according to police.
About 10:30 a.m., a school police officer was completing security rounds and saw what he believed to be the same vehicle parked across the street from the school in a cemetery parking lot. The security officer contacted state police.
When Trooper Casey Fuller from the Butler barracks of the State Police arrived on scene, he saw the male- later identified as Russell- asleep in the van, which was still running.
“The trooper detected a strong odor of an intoxicating beverage coming from Russell,” according to court documents.
Russell allegedly told the trooper he had been in the Moniteau High School parking lot and said he was there to get cell service. When asked if he had any children that attended Moniteau, he said he did not, according to police.
While speaking with Russell, the trooper allegedly observed a bottle of vodka and a green gun case. Russell then told the trooper he had two shotguns and a pistol in the vehicle.
“The trooper discovered two loaded shotguns, a pistol and three knives,” according to court documents.
Authorities have not released details regarding why Russell was parked so closely to the school or what his intentions were.
The incident prompted district officials to place Moniteau High School on an exterior lockdown, which means no one was permitted in or out of the building.
The district says students were never evacuated and state police did not enter or investigate anything within the high school.
In a letter to parents, Moniteau Superintendent Sean Arney thanked his staff, officers, students, administrators and the state police.
“This was a disruption to our day; however, everyone acted in a calm and professional manner. We take every precaution to implement our safety and security plan seriously. The safety and security of our students and staff are our most important priority,” he said.
