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Suspicious man trying to enter Kenosha school calls for school to 'keep school safe'

Schools in Kenosha are currently not allowing anyone in or out after a man with suspicious bags attempted to enter a district school and fled after being questioned by staff.

The Kenosha Unified School District moved all of its schools to safety this morning following the incident — meaning schools are operating as normal but no one can enter or exit the building — said Tanya Ruder, the district's chief communications officer. Kenosha police continue to search for the suspect who attempted to enter Roosevelt Elementary School.

Ruder said the man only reached the school's “secure entrance” and did not enter the school.

“We have now taken every precaution to ensure the children and KUSD staff are safe. We don’t even know what was in the bag, so it’s just speculation at this point,” Lt. Joshua Hecker of the Kenosha Police Department Public Information Officer.

Ruder said they moved all schools to a secure room based on guidance from the Kenosha Police Department.

“At this point, all we know is that an individual attempted to enter the building and they entered our secured entrance with suspicious bags, when approached by staff they fled into the neighborhood,” Ruder said.

The district-wide arrest was made for security reasons; the man is still wanted by the police, said Hecker. He said the department is working with the county, the Kenosha County Sheriff's Department and the Pleasant Prairie Police Department in the investigation.

In a statement, the Kenosha school district said the sheriff's department and Pleasant Prairie police were at all schools in the district assisting with patrols in the search for the man.

Frank Elementary School reported the incident on social media shortly after noon and said it was canceling the afternoon 4K course and holding back all remaining 4K students. The post said the man attempted to enter Roosevelt Elementary School.

“We understand that this may cause concern, but we assure you that this is being done for the safety of students, staff and families. “KUSD is working closely with the Kenosha Police Department to locate the suspect as quickly as possible,” the school said in its post.

Ruder said the district will provide support, if necessary, to students who are upset after the incident. She did not have a timetable for when the district's school suspension period would end.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call Kenosha police at 262-656-1234.

David Clarey can be reached at [email protected].

This is a breaking news story and will be updated.

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