Peachtree City Elementary School was put on temporary lockdown May 17 until officers located the Griffin man who had been seen inside the school fence after being asked to leave the property.
Kenneth B. Sampler, 22, was charged with loitering and resisting an officer, according to Fayette County Jail records. Sampler had outstanding warrants for burglary in Spalding County and failure to appear in Coweta County.
Peachtree City Police Department spokesman Matt Myers said officers at 1:11 p.m. received a suspicious person call from Peachtree City Elementary School. Sampler had asked parents outside the school if he could borrow a phone to call his girlfriend. The girlfriend lived nearby, Myers added.
The principal approached and told Sampler to leave the area, though it was subsequently determined that Sampler, after being spotted by an officer, was inside the school fence and near the playground, Myers said. It was then that Sampler ran, Myers added.
The school was put on lockdown out of an abundance of caution, Myers explained.
Sampler was located by officers a short time later in the wooded area across the street between Wisdom Road and Riley Parkway, said Myers.
The school was released from lockdown once Sampler was in custody.
