LEXINGTON, S.C. — A woman was arrested after police said she went into River Bluff High School and threatened an employee Wednesday.
Lexington Police said they were alerted to a suspicious person in the school's front lobby on Wednesday. Upon further investigation, they discovered that the subject was a parent.
Police said the parent, identified as 34-year-old Danielle Cato, bypassed the security measures in the front office and entered the library, where she began to act aggressively toward a school employee, yelling, cursing, and threatening to assault the employee.
According to officers, Cato then followed the employee to the front lobby, where school resource officers were alerted.
The incident caused the school to be placed in a secure status, and students were evacuated from the common area as a precaution.
Police said Cato is charged with disturbing schools and third-degree assault and battery. She's set to have a bond hearing on Thursday.
Following is the statement Lexington School District One released to families:
Dear RBHS Employees and Families,
I am writing to let you know that we implemented a safety procedure this afternoon due to an individual, who after being buzzed in at the main entrance of the school, did not properly check in with office staff.
We are thankful that school staff and law enforcement quickly responded. The individual was detained by law enforcement, and we resumed normal operations.
We understand that incidents like these can be unsettling, and we want to assure you that the safety of our students and staff remains our top priority. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out to me or one of our assistant principals.
Thank you for your continued trust and cooperation in making our school a safe and caring place for our students.
Sincerely,
Jacob Smith
Principal