Parent arrested after incident at high school in Lexington, cops say. Here’s what happened
A Midlands high school was placed under a security protocol Wednesday after the parent of a student illegally entered the building and threatened an employee, according to the Lexington Police Department.
The incident happened at River Bluff High School, Police Chief Terrence Green said in a news release. The Lexington 1 school is on Corley Mill Road, near the Saluda River and Exit 61 on Interstate 20.
Danielle Cato — a 34-year-old Lexington, South Carolina, resident — was charged with disturbing schools and third-degree assault & battery, according to the release.
Police said they got involved when officers were alerted about a suspicious person, later identified as Cato, in the front lobby of the high school.
Cato had bypassed the security measures in the front office and entered the library, where she began to act aggressively toward a school employee, according to the release. Cato was yelling, cursing, and threatening to assault the employee, police said.
Information about why Cato bypassed security to go to the library and then acted aggressively was not available.
Her behavior caused the school to go into a secure status and students were evacuated from the common area as precautionary measures, according to the release.
Cato followed the employee to the front lobby when school resource officers were notified and the 34-year-old parent was arrested Wednesday afternoon, police said.
No injuries were reported.
Cato was taken to the Lexington County Detention Center, jail records show. In a statement released Thursday, a Lexington 1 spokesperson said Cato was told by a bond court that she is not allowed onto any school district property or at any school district event.
“District and school leaders are grateful that this was an isolated incident that was resolved quickly due to the swift response of school employees, law enforcement and students,” school district spokesperson Libby Roof wrote in a news release.
“We recognize and understand, however, that incidents like this can be unsettling. Counseling support is available for students and employees.”
The district said “strict security measures” would continue to be enforced at all Lexington 1 schools.
If convicted on the misdemeanor disturbing schools charge, Cato faces a maximum punishment of 90 days in jail and a $1,000 fine, according to South Carolina law. The maximum punishment for the misdemeanor third-degree assault & battery conviction would result in 30 days in jail and a $500 fine, per South Carolina law.
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This story was originally published September 19, 2024 at 7:43 AM with the headline "Parent arrested after incident at high school in Lexington, cops say. Here’s what happened."
