Police: Man Tried To Sexually Assault Student In School Bathroom

DUNDALK, Md.  (WJZ) --In a frightening moment at a Dundalk middle school, a boy encounters a stranger in the bathroom who tries to sexually assault him.

Suzanne Collins explains many are concerned about how the man got into the school without detection.

Parents came to Holabird Middle School on Thursday to get their children early because of snow. They came out with a surprising letter from the assistant principal about an assault on a student. 

A source familiar with the case tells WJZ the suspect dragged the boy into a stall bathroom trying to sexually assault him.

It's believed the stranger slipped in with a crowd of school children entering early Thursday morning.

"I'm sure scared to death," said Cindy Mauler, parent. "I have a son in seventh grade. It concerns me a lot."

Luckily, the boy escaped unharmed, and the suspect was quickly arrested.

"A school staff member heard the child yelling, went to the bathroom to investigate and found the suspect in the bathroom with the victim," said Baltimore County Police spokesperson Lt. Rob McCullough.

"Aren't they checked when they go in? How does he get past there? They have a police officer here constantly," said Cindy Costello, parent.

Normally school doors are locked. Strangers must buzz to get in.  But on Thursday, the doors were left open, allowing students to wait for the first class in the lobby instead of outside in the cold.

School officials say at least two people, a staff member and a school resource officer, confronted the intruder. They told him that he shouldn't be there and that he should go directly to the main office.

"They asked what his business was, asked him to report to the office, which is what they are supposed to do," said Charles Herndon, Baltimore County Schools. "Unfortunately, he didn't do that."

Police say the school officer remained watchful. Apparently, the suspect entered the bathroom, but the officer was close when the boy yelled for help.

"If [a] police officer or school security actually saw this individual, then they should have taken them off the premises," said Jerry Costello, parent.

Late Thursday, security was very tight. Even parents were highly scrutinized at the door.

The suspect, who's not yet been identified, is in his 20s and lives in the Dundalk area. The suspect was scheduled for a bail hearing Thursday night.