ROCKY MOUNT, Va. – The Rocky Mount Police Department is receiving threats after an arrest Thursday morning was captured on video.
Police responded to an incident at Franklin County High School on Thursday morning involving an individual on the sidewalk apparently filming school facilities, students, staff and security, according to a news release from the town of Rocky Mount.
Recommended Videos
At about 8:05 a.m., two high school resources officers, a Rocky Mount Police Department Officer and Franklin County Sheriff’s Office deputy, responded to a complaint from a school administrator that the individual had trespassed and was filming throughout the area.
The RMPD school resource officer requested that the man identify himself and when he would not, the officer arrested him for obstruction of justice.
A magistrate issued warrants for obstruction of justice and for trespassing, setting bond at $1,500, which upon producing 55-year-old Roger Alan Morris, of Troutville, was released.
Video of the incident was posted on social media, which has led to a variety of threats and slurs against the Town of Rocky Mount and its police officers.
“The officer displayed professional and reasonable conduct, working to ensure the individual was not a threat to school children, personnel or facilities,” said Rocky Mount police Chief K.E. Criner. “The Police Department will continue to ensure that school students and faculty can safely go about their daily lives. We want parents to be assured that the educational environment will continue to be as safe as we can make it.