At least three parents were tased and then arrested by the police for trying to get inside a school in Arizona when it went into lockdown Friday, Aug. 12, 2022.
Reports cited that a suspicious man with a handgun was seen at the Thompson Ranch Elementary School. He tried to open a locked door before he ran off. However, the El Mirage police were able to find the man and take him into custody, but NBC News could not verify if he indeed carried a handgun.
The incident comes three months after the mass school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, in which local law enforcement took 77 minutes to enter the school, apprehend and eventually stop the school shooter by gunning him down. As a result of the delay, 19 fourth-grade students and two teachers died in the tragic incident.
Angry parents demanded to get inside the school
In a statement on Facebook, the El Mirage police said that the school staff reported the suspicious person, and authorities immediately activated the safety protocols. The cops immediately arrived and then determined that there were no threats. When the parents arrived, they were already clearing a school facility for a suspicious item.
However, as the school remained in lockdown, some of the parents tried to disregard the police and attempted to get inside. One father had an altercation with an officer and two other parents, including a mom, joined. The officers deployed a taser to control the situation after seeing that one of the parents had a gun on him.
Lt. Jimmy Chavez told the press that he understood the parents' sentiments as he is a father himself. However, he insisted that the school and law enforcement had to follow procedures. Instead, the parents agitated the cops in this situation.
While most of the comments on Facebook commended and thanked the police, one said that the parents' reaction was a "direct byproduct" of the incident in Uvalde.
"Parents no longer trust the police to act in the best interest of their children," Lance Gentry said, adding that it was a shame three parents had to be arrested because of this.
Charges for the parents
According to ABC News, the parent with a gun will likely face charges because weapons are not allowed within the school's vicinity. The other parents who were tased could also be charged with disorderly conduct. The mom was taken to the hospital for medical assistance.
The Dysart Unified School District also issued a statement to remind the parents to observe the protocols established in partnership with the police. The school officials also reiterated that schools are gun-free zones, and they could be charged with a felony for having a gun on campus.
Meanwhile, charges for the man who triggered the lockdown have not yet been made public, pending an evaluation with a mental health professional.
