‘We can never take safety for granted’

Police: Man charged after trying to enter elementary school

STAMFORD — Davenport Ridge Elementary School went into a lockdown Friday afternoon after police said a man went to the entrance of the school and asked to be let in before he was arrested by responding officers.

Shortly after 1 p.m., school officials noticed a suspicious man on the school campus and “immediately initiated a lockdown,” Stamford police said Friday evening. The lockdown triggered a response from police, who arrived within three minutes, the department said, and detained the man.

“In light of the recent tragedies in Texas and in Buffalo, we want to highlight this incident,” Capt. Diedrich Hohn said in a statement. “The administrator and school staff of Davenport School did everything right to keep the staff and students safe from harm. We can never take safety for granted.”

“Today, we want to highlight how, if you see something / say something,” the police statement said. It is important to follow a school’s safety and infrastructure security procedures “to ensure everyone’s safety.”

Police identified the man as 31-year-old Jamar Mikel Edwards, of Charlotte N.C. He was charged with first-degree trespassing

School officials told police they had seen Edwards get off a CT Transit bus, which uses the school driveway to turn around, and saw him approach the school on foot.

Police said Edwards “appeared disoriented” to staff, and attempted to open the front door “but was prevented because they were locked.”

He then rang the school’s buzzer and spoke to staff “saying he had keys to drop off,

and that he was looking for a job.”

Police said Edwards was not allowed inside and did not gain access to the building.

Police are still trying to ascertain why

he was on school grounds

Stamford police said Edwards has a case pending in Connecticut after state police arrested him on Interstate 95 on Wednesday. Details from that arrest were not immediately available.

Edwards was taken to Stamford Hospital for a mental health evaluation, police said.

Hearst Connecticut Media file photo Davenport Ridge School at 1300 Newfield Ave. in Stamford, was placed in lockdown Friday, triggering a response from police where one individual was arrested and charged with trespassing.