Michael Anthony Adams

IndyStar

4:38 P.M. WEDNESDAY UPDATE: Ronald Kendall has been released from the Hendricks County Jail on a $500 cash bond, according to jail records. His initial court appearance has not yet been scheduled.

9:40 P.M. TUESDAY:

PLAINFIELD — An armed man was arrested Tuesday night in the Plainfield High School auditorium, where hundreds of concerned parents and students gathered for a forum held by multiple law enforcement agencies to address recent threats that have plagued the school and community.

Officials from the FBI, Indiana State Police, Plainfield Police Department, Plainfield School District and the town held the forum so that community members could ask about the safety of their children and find out more about the ongoing investigation into anonymous Facebook threats that have targeted the high school and other areas.

Shortly after the forum started, a man — later identified as Ronald Kendall, Avon — disrupted the "manner in which questions were to be asked" of panelists, police said.

When he wasn't allowed to ask his question, police said, he alerted the crowd that he had a gun in his pocket.

Audience members quickly advised two Plainfield police officers of the situation, and Kendall was detained and escorted outside, police said.

When officers searched Kendall, they found a loaded gun in his jacket pocket. Police said Kendall told them that he'd come to the forum armed because of the recent threats against the school. He was arrested and booked into the Hendricks County Jail on a preliminary charge of carrying a handgun on school property.

It's unclear whether Kendall has a child who attends Plainfield High School, but it was clear that, while many in the crowd were upset that a man was able to enter the school with a gun, they also shared his fear.

After Kendall's arrest, a woman in the audience stood up and asked the panelists how parents are supposed to trust law enforcement and school administrators with their children's safety if they can't even protect people at a community forum?

Other parents chimed in, angry that no one was checked as they entered the school for the forum. One woman was even brought to tears. She said her daughter was scared to go to school, and that the two of them fought daily about her attending.

Noticing the crowd was becoming agitated, State Police Superintendent Doug Carter took the podium, expressing how upset the whole investigation had made him.

"Don't let this (suspect) get the best of you," he said. "Don't let him win."

While much of the audience was appreciative of law enforcement's efforts during the investigation, clapping and cheering when police made statements such as, "It's time for this person's 15 minutes of fame to end," and, "We're not going to stop until we catch him," many people questioned whether more could be done, especially after the Kendall incident.

"This was a voluntary event that was established for communication purposes," Plainfield Police Capt. Jill Lees said after the meeting. "We provided security here, but obviously, as you saw with the crowds, it was very difficult to check every single person of that nature coming in. So, with that being said, we tried to handle security the best we could."

FBI Special Agent in Charge W. Jay Abbott told attendees that the investigation could take several months. The suspect "has been very clever" in hiding his identity, he said. "It takes a lot of time."

To date, police have served at least 200 subpoenas in connection with the case, mostly to Internet service providers who have access to digital information investigators need to track the suspect.

Tension hangs over Plainfield High School after threats

The initial anonymous Facebook threats that targeted Plainfield High School began last month. Rambling, violent and graphic, they named a specific student. In response, classes were canceled for all schools in the district on the last day before winter break.

After classes were canceled, new Facebook posts threatened stores and movie theaters in Plainfield, causing the Shops at Perry Crossing and the movie theater there to be evacuated Dec. 18.

The person making threats was not active for much of winter break, until he or she created a new Facebook account Saturday night, threatening violence when students returned to school.

Since school has been back in session, Lees said, police have had a stronger presence in the area.

On Jan. 5, Plainfield residents watched federal, state and local law enforcement officials search homes and question people in connection with the incidents, but officials from the FBI, U.S. attorney's office and Plainfield police could not provide details about the police activity.

Late Tuesday afternoon, school and police officials identified the student who on Sunday night made threats of violence on Facebook aimed at Mt. Vernon High School. The Fortville Police Department said the student was arrested and is being charged with felony intimidation.

Last week, police arrested a 15-year-old boy in connection with online threats targeting Perry Meridian High School.

Latest Plainfield threat investigation update brings relief, not fear

Call IndyStar reporter Michael Anthony Adams at (317) 444-6123. Follow him on Twitter: @MichaelAdams317.