A man is in custody after reportedly burglarizing two Edina homes and running into a nearby elementary school to elude police, prompting a school lockdown, the principal said Thursday.
School staff at Countryside Elementary School noticed the unfamiliar man walking the building without checking in, Principal Karen Bergman said in a message to parents on Thursday. The school went into lockdown and police were called, but the man left quickly and the lockdown was lifted.
Police investigated security camera footage and identified the man connected with two home burglaries Wednesday morning, one of them across the street from the school. Bergman said it appears the man entered the school to escape police after the burglaries, entering and exiting quickly.
"We are pleased that news of the individual being apprehended can, in some way, bring closure to an unsettling incident," Bergman told parents, adding that the incident may raise additional concerns, and the school will continue to review safety protocols.
The man, who has not yet been identified, was arrested Wednesday and was in Hennepin County jail pending multiple charges. Edina police spokeswoman Jennifer Bennerotte said it's believed he wasn't armed, but more details will be released when charges are filed.
KELLY SMITH
