Robbery Charged Filed After Patuxent Elementary School Threat

UPPER MARLBORO, MD — An Upper Marlboro man who entered Patuxent Elementary School on Friday afternoon carried a grill lighter that was mistaken as a weapon, say Prince George's County Police. Ricard Campbell, 35, of the 16700 block of Wardlow Road, made a threat to a staffer and took a piece of jewelry, authorities say, which led to a robbery charge against him.

Reports circulated that a man had walked into the building June 7 and made "threatening statements and was acting strangely," according to a police spokeswoman. School staff called 911, police set up a perimeter and evacuated six children and several employees of an aftercare program in session at the school. Officers searched the school room by room to ensure that there was no threat, determined that no one was injured, there was no evidence of shots fired, and there were no weapons found.

Police say Campbell may have taken off his clothes and wandered into a nearby neighborhood. A grill lighter in his possession was perceived by a staff member to be a possible weapon.

Campbell is charged with robbery and is in the custody of the Department of Corrections, according to a police report. Detectives say that while Campbell was inside the school, he robbed a staff member of jewelry.

"We sincerely thank Prince George’s County Public Schools, our partner law enforcement and area public safety agencies for their assistance and quick response," the department said. "And we sincerely thank our community for your patience and assistance as well."