SUFFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — Suffolk’s interim police chief said he doesn’t think the situation where an intruder entered into a Suffolk elementary school and barricaded themselves inside a bathroom with students was a breach of the school’s security.
Instead, Major Danny Buie praised the work of both students and staff members with helping to bring the situation to a rather quick and safe ending.
Just after 11:30 a.m. on the last day of school for the year, Suffolk Police were alerted to an intruder inside Kilby Shores Elementary School.
Vontrail Thorpe, 42, of Suffolk, was able to enter into the building when a teacher was letting students in from recess, according to a criminal complaint.
“When her back was turned, Mr. Thorpe entered the building,” the arresting officer wrote.
“This gentleman saw an opportunity and took it,” Buie said. “In a matter of a second, he took this opportunity, so I don’t I don’t see it as a breach of their security.”
Thorpe has been charged with two counts of abduction, disorderly conduct, possession of a schedule I/II substance on school property and breaking and entering.
If Thorpe was lurking outside for a while and nobody said anything, Buie said he would have been concerned. But in this case, court documents detail Thorpe was suffering from a mental health crisis.
Thorpe told investigators he didn’t intend to abduct any children, and that he was confused as to what was going on.
“He felt that someone was after him, and just ran to the safest place and went into the first door he saw,” the bail determination sheet read.
Thorpe had only been released from the Sentara Obici mental health unit two days prior. He allegedly just received new prescriptions and is waiting on a counselor to get medication.
Thorpe is currently being held at the Western Tidewater Regional Jail without bail and is due back in court next month.
While Buie doesn’t believe the school division’s security failed, he does think there could be a way to prevent something similar from happening in the future. He said his department will consult with the school division on security protocols as it regularly does.
“Like putting a spotter out before you open the door and the kids start coming out, just to make sure nobody’s out there,” Buie said.
Intruder drills are something the police, students and staff have training in place for.
Buie wondered if that is why the young girls, believed to be in kindergarten, stuck in the bathroom when Thorpe entered, reacted the way they did.
The girls locked themselves inside the interior bathroom stalls and started screaming for help, according to the court documents.
“From what I know, these kids did exactly what they should have done, and that’s try to secure themselves somewhere safe and make as much noise as they can make until help gets to them,” Buie said. “I’m very proud of them. … I think what we don’t want to miss here, the teachers that were right there, I’m very proud of them too. They reacted and they did everything in their power to try to get into that door to remove these kids from this situation.”
10 On Your Side also reached out to Suffolk Public Schools for a response, but did not receive any.
Continue to check WAVY.com for updates.