Intruder spotted in Marinette elementary school

MARINETTE - The Marinette Police Department says they are taking reports of a masked intruder at an elementary school seriously, especially considering a deadly incident at the high school two years ago.

Monday was an early release day at Merryman Elementary School. The cleaning crew started their rounds after 3:30. And that's when one woman found someone unexpected in a classroom.

"A member of the cleaning crew had confronted whom she believed to be a male wearing camouflage clothing and a black and white mask. She challenged him as to what he was doing there and he fled out an open window, which we believe is the same window he used to gain entrance,” said Sgt. Bruce Furst.

Furst with the Marinette police says the intruder may have been a student.

“We didn't rule out the possibility because he was bout 5'2" to 5'4" and a skinny build. That would fit somebody in that age range,” said Furst.

The police say the K-9 unit tracked the intruder's scent outside of the school. He headed south, but that's where the trail ended. They don't know who he was, or where he was going.

“We brought a K-9 in to do a person search to make sure there was no possibility there was anybody left in the building. Officers from the department checked every window and every door,” said Furst.

And while this sort of incident may go somewhat unnoticed in other towns, in Marinette it raises alarm. Two years ago, 15-year-old Samuel Hengel took other high school students hostage before taking his own life. That incident has changed how law enforcement responds.

"I think what the last incident did was it brought out awareness certainly an awareness that nobody is immune to that sort of action. So what we have done since then is we take every incident seriously and investigate it as best as we can,” said Furst.

Police say they're relieve the intruder didn't steal or vandalize any property.

If you have information about the break-in, you're asked to call Marinette police. The number is (715) 732-5200.