Fair Lawn Police Catch Alleged Lyncrest School Trespasser
Edward Proctor, 38, of Paterson, was charged with criminal trespass at a school
A man police say was casing borough schools looking for items to steal was arrested Friday after he returned to Lyncrest Elementary School, where he had been caught wandering the halls in late September, police said.
Police said Edward Proctor, 38, of Paterson, had been trying to enter schools looking for items left out in the open that he could steal, like pocketbooks, wallets and cell phones.
School staff identified the man, called police, and kept watch on him as he walked around the school grounds, police said. Staffers provided police with a detailed description of his appearance and the make of the car he left in, police said.
Officers Sean Macys, Mark Wyka, Sean Nagle, Det. Jeffrey Welsh and Det. Lt. Michael Uttel were dispatched to the school and surrounding areas Friday morning to locate the man.
Soon after, Officer Macys spotted a man who fit the trespasser's description and pulled him over at the intersection of Plaza and Cambridge roads.
Macys identified the car’s driver as the man who had been wandering Lyncrest School and placed him under arrest.
Proctor was charged with criminal trespass at a school, and later released on his own recognizance.
Proctor had originally come to the police’s attention when he entered Lyncrest School without permission by following someone into the building on Sept. 27, police said.
When approached by teachers at the time, Proctor said he was looking for his nephew, a student named Michael Harris. A check found that no such student was enrolled in the school district.
Police were called to the scene, but were not able to locate Proctor at the time. A man fitting Proctor’s description had also been seen outside Forrest School a day earlier.
Sgt. Richard Schultz commended the Lyncrest school staff Friday for its quick and detailed response working in tandem with the police to apprehend Proctor.
Proctor is scheduled to appear in Municipal Court on Oct. 26 at 7 p.m.
In This article
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Lyncrest School
9-04 Morlot Ave, Fair Lawn, NJ -
John A. Forrest Elementary School
10-00 Hopper Ave, Fair Lawn, NJ -
Fair Lawn Borough Municipal Court
8-01 Fair Lawn Ave, Fair Lawn, NJ
Esther
3:18 pm on Friday, October 21, 2011
"After calling police, the school staff kept a close eye on the suspicious man as he walked through the school"... WTH? Why was he still allowed to go past the main office and roam the halls?
Zak Koeske
3:27 pm on Friday, October 21, 2011
That's my mistake, Esther. I misinterpreted the term "walked around the school" that the police used to describe the man's actions today. He was walking around the outside of the school. He did not enter the building this time.
Esther
3:43 pm on Friday, October 21, 2011
Thank you for the clarification Zak! I'm so relieved he was caught. I thought twice about letting my son walk to school when I first read about this incident. The school staff did a great job & so did the police.
Stuart Pace
3:23 pm on Friday, October 21, 2011
Nice work everyone.
Stacy Conroy
3:45 pm on Friday, October 21, 2011
Thanks for the update Zak...glad everyone was on the lookout for this guy and good work by the school staff who noticed him and by the FLPD who quickly found this guy.
publius
4:47 pm on Friday, October 21, 2011
to clarify things: today the man (Proctor) was seen walking around the outside of the school only. The staff recognized him from a previous incident on Sept. 27th where he had followed another person into the school. This other person was a contractor and Proctor made it look like he was with the contractor. The incident on the 27th is where he was confronted by school staff walking the hallways. Proctor was looking to steal items not go after any of the school children.
1happygirl
5:05 pm on Friday, October 21, 2011
This guy is some type of predator, no doubt, kudos to the school and police working together to identify this thug. To think Governor Christie who is a ex-prosecutor attacks police and educators, the very people who help the citizens!
Go Figure
8:21 pm on Friday, October 21, 2011
This is why I know our children are safe in Fair Lawn. Thanks to officers and teachers and other school employees!
Donna
8:52 pm on Friday, October 21, 2011
Thanks to the teachers, but are the doors locked at the school? how did he get in there to begin with? Its scary that if your kids are in school that anyone can just come in the school.... what if a child was taken !!
publius
10:20 am on Saturday, October 22, 2011
@Donna: the doors were and continue to be locked. Proctor walked in with a contractor when that contractor was buzzed in. He walked in as if he was working with that contractor. Proctor was only looking to steal items not harm the children.
JDBlackhawk
9:48 am on Monday, January 16, 2012
The elementary school where I taught for many years (just retired) had strict protocol for allowing anyone into the building, every exterior door was locked and no-one entered without proceeding to the main office entrance where positive ID was required and monitored before being allowed to enter (including all staff). If anyone somehow got in without permission (never happened, only in simulated drills) we had procedures for safeguarding every student in the building. required alot of work coordinated with municipal police who helped develop the procedures but sadly necessary now and worth it if it prevents even one student being placed in a a dangerous situation. I attended Lyncrest School years ago and always felt safe due to the terrific teachers, custodians and administration who made sure it was. Thank you Mr. Lyons wherever you are.