Police arrested a convicted sex offender at a middle school after he allegedly walked into the building dressed as a police officer and carrying a 6-inch folding knife.
Authorities said Kyle Lamone, 25, was charged with unlawfully carrying a weapon on school grounds and impersonating a police officer.
Lamone had been in the building at least twice since Jan. 1, but Tuesday’s incident was the first time he carried a weapon inside, Sgt. Daryl Noon said. The school’s principal said Lamone had said the previous two times that he wanted to speak to his former teacher.
Lamone, who was wearing a SWAT shirt and tactical pants on Tuesday, could face nearly 2½ years in prison if convicted.
He previously was convicted of criminal sexual contact with a minor in 2000, according to court records. He was sentenced to two years in prison, but records show he was released less than two weeks after sentencing.
Principal Anthony Smagacz said Lamone entered the building and went to a classroom without checking in as a visitor. He said Lamone was trying to see a former teacher after the dismissal bell rang and students were leaving for the day. The visit was suspicious but not violent, he said.
“I knew he was a visitor who hadn’t checked in, and that was quite suspicious. I went to the classroom and told the teacher that she had a meeting elsewhere,” Smagacz said.
The school’s resource officer researched Lamone after a previous visit and learned he was a convicted sex offender.