Man in bulletproof vest with knife, rifle magazines arrested near Haviland Middle School
Hyde Park school officials say employees confronted the man on campus before police located him off school grounds.
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A man wearing camouflage was arrested after approaching Haviland Middle School in Hyde Park, according to a letter sent to families by the superintendent.
Hyde Park Central School District Superintendent Dr. Pedro Roman said the incident happened Monday afternoon as students were returning to the building at the end of seventh period following lunch.
According to the district, the man was riding a bicycle when he approached the school’s back parking lot and passed through the backfield area. Lunch monitors approached him, and he fled. School staff alerted the school resource officer, who called Hyde Park police for backup.
The district said police located the man off campus and found him wearing a bulletproof vest, carrying a knife at his waist and possessing two rifle magazines, one of which contained ammunition. No firearm was found.
The man was later taken to a hospital for a psychiatric evaluation.
Roman said students and staff remained safe and credited school staff and police with responding quickly.
A parent who contacted News 12 said the school was not placed on lockdown or under a hold-in-place order during the incident and questioned the district’s response, as well as why families were not notified until later that evening. The parent also claimed the same individual had previously been seen on school property, though News 12 has not independently confirmed that information.
News 12 has reached out to the Hyde Park Central School District and Hyde Park police for additional information, including the man’s identity, whether charges were filed and details about the district’s response.
The Dutchess County District Attorney’s Office told News 12 it has no information about the incident or any related case at this time.
