LPS says repeat trespasser is in jail; police investigating relationship with student

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – A 20-year-old man was arrested Thursday after police say he trespassed at two Lincoln schools in a month.

On Jan. 23, the man entered Irving Middle School twice before he crashed his car into a fence.

He told school officials that he was there to see his cousin, according to a statement released on Tuesday by Lincoln Public Schools.

Officers searched the man’s vehicle and did not find any weapons, officials said.  At the time, there was no known connection between the man and the school’s students or staff.

He was cited on suspicion of trespassing, driving under the influence, negligent driving, not wearing a seat belt and having no insurance.

On Jan. 26, the LPS Threat Assessment Team was made aware that an adult had been communicating with three Irving students through Snapchat.

One of the students reported that the adult, who turned out to be the trespasser, made a threat, officials say.

Lincoln Police began investigating the threat and interviewed the man at his parents’ home on Jan. 27.

He, once again, told officers that he had been at Irving to see his cousin, according to the statement.

Police instructed him to stay away from the school, stop communicating with students and “end any form of relationship” with a female student.

Officials say the man did not have any weapons in the home.

Lincoln Police Capt. Todd Kocian told Channel 8 that the threat was found not to be credible.

Officials are investigating the nature of the relationship between the man and the student.

The female student said she had conversations with the man but had since stopped talking to him, according to the statement.

She told officers that their friendship began through a family member, officials say.

On Thursday, the man tried entering Culler Middle School with a student.  Staff “recognized” that the man did not belong at the school and removed him from the building’s entrance, LPS said.

The man ran away from staff members, who chased him all the way to O Street, officials said.

After interviews with staff and students, police determined that the student he was with was the girl he had a relationship with.  She had transferred to Culler.

Officers arrested the man on suspicion of stalking and trespassing at Culler Middle School.

As of Tuesday, he remains in the Lancaster County Jail.

The LPS School Board held public comment on Tuesday, and some testifiers weren’t happy with the way things were handled.

“What in the hell is going on in our schools?” asked Lincoln resident Marilyn Hoskins. “You members of the Lincoln Public Schools school board set policy for safety, education, and staffing for our children. You are failing at every level, and you should be held responsible.”

Heather Schmidt said she is a parent at Irving Middle School.

“It took a couple of weeks before parents could attend an LPS-arranged security update with Joe Wright. All of us missed seeing any of you there,” Schmidt told the board.

Officials say anyone with information that is concerning should contact Lincoln Police or LPS security.