A 68-year-old man with a compound bow, arrows and knives was arrested outside Fernandina Beach Middle School after a struggle with a campus resource officer.
The Fernandina Beach Police Department
said the officer at the 315 Citrona Drive school was notified of a suspicious person and vehicle on the property about 8:30 a.m. Friday, Oct. 2. Upon further investigation, it was learned the man was in possession of several weapons."Once confronted in the parking lot by the officer, a physical struggle ensued," and Ralph Jim Suarez was subdued and arrested, according to the Police Department. He was charged with exhibiting a weapon on school property, armed trespassing on school property, false report of bomb threats and resisting arrest.
It is not
known at this time what intentions Suarez had while on the property. Police Chief Jeffrey Tambasco said the man has no relation to the school that they could find this early in the investigation.
It was not stated whether the weapons were on his person or in his vehicle. Among them in a photo provided to media were a long dagger and a small folding knife.
The Times-Union has requested the arrest report. Public records list an address for Suarez on Egret Lane in Fernandina Beach and show he has a Florida hunting license.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Man with bow and arrows, knives arrested at Fernandina school
