Open carry incident results in Sanford day care center lock down

One local day care center’s preschool graduation became a more exciting event that planned when a parent arrived exercising his right to open carry.

The incident occurred about 10 a.m. Thursday at the Sanford Early Childhood Center, 2534 W. River Road.

In a letter emailed to parents, Meridian Public Schools Superintendent Craig Carmoney wrote a parent entered the building’s gym wearing an open carry pistol in a holster. Other parents notified employees of their concern, and staff followed the school district’s procedures by placing the building in lock down and calling law enforcement.

The parent was asked to leave the building, and waited outside until Midland County sheriff’s deputies arrived.

The Midland County Sheriff’s Office reports the parent, a 26-year-old Midland man, left the school when deputies asked him to do so.

No arrests were made, as it is not against state law to carry weapons in schools. It is, however, against school policy, deputies clarified.

“The safety and wellbeing of our students and staff is a top priority for us at Meridian Public Schools,” Carmoney wrote, adding staff has developed response protocols for situations such as these with local law enforcement officials and conducts multiple lock down drills during the school year.