A York County sheriff’s report says a suicidal man who may have been on drugs was the cause of a temporary lockdown Tuesday afternoon at six schools in Fort Mill.
Three officers arrived on Springfield Parkway in reference to a disturbance around 1:22 p.m. Tuesday and located a 28-year-old suspect in the front yard of the residence. The man then walked around the back of the home.
A sheriff’s sergeant was notified that the suspect was walking around the back of the home after making “suicidal statements and referenced being killed by law enforcement,” the report says.
It appeared he had run into a wooded area behind the home, which backs up to the Greenway. The sergeant notified the K9 unit to respond.
The suspect’s father told authorities that his son had been acting strangely the last few days. He believed he was on narcotics.
“He has previously spoked with Catawba Mental Health regarding placement for (his son) but had not heard anything back yet,” a sheriff’s report says. “K9 arrived and began a track as Cpl. Boone and I attempted to establish some type of perimeter. Nearby schools were placed on lockdown as a precaution.”
The schools put on temporary lockdown were Nation Ford High School, Fort Mill and Springfield middle schools, and Fort Mill, Springfield and Sugar Creek elementary schools.
The suspect had a home on Hallett Street in Fort Mill Police Department’s jurisdiction, so that agency was asked to check that area. After some time, FMPD advised that they had located the man walking in that area.
“(He) was calm and had completely changed his demeanor in the time since he fled the incident location. He stated that he was mad, and admitted that he made suicidal threats but did not mean them. He was advised that he was going to be taken to the hospital by Cpl Boone due to his statements,” the report says.
The man said he understood and was handcuffed and transported to Piedmont Medical Center. Authorities said Tuesday that they were searching for a disorderly person who vandalized two cars off Springfield Parkway.