A Micanopy man is in jail for waving a pellet rifle and throwing a dead possum at parents waiting in line to pick up their kids from school. This isn't his first run in with the law, but the man's family is speaking out about his mental illness and asking for help.

"When he's not on his medicine he's a complete stranger," said Melissa Markham, who added she believes the mental health system has failed her brother-in-law. "It's just been a vicious cycle for the family."

On Tuesday William Greggory Markham walked outside his home across from the Micanopy Area Cooperative School and waved a pellet rifle at parents and threw a dead possum at them. The 54-year-old had previously complained about the line of cars blocking the road.

School administrators immediately put the school on lockdown.

"The administration of the school did a wonderful job coming out telling those parents to get inside the building, which is a concrete block building, for fear that something bad would happen to those parents," said Sgt. Chris Sims of the Alachua County Sheriff's Office.

Markham initially would not listen to deputies but eventually they calmed him down and took him into custody.

Melissa says she wishes it could have been stopped sooner.

"They'll get him stable enough and then release him back into society," she said. "But he needs to go to a mental institution and maybe have to be there for a very long time."

On Facebook parents showed support for school employees and suggested the car line be moved. Others were concerned for Markham's mental health and access to firearms.

"Our family is very sorry for all the children, parents, teachers, principals that had to go through this fear," Melissa said.

William Markham made his first appearance in court Wednesday, charged with four counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without the intent to kill.

As of Wednesday, Markham is being held at the Alachua County Jail on $2 million bond.