Man arrested for threats to Fairfield High School

BY ANDY HALLMAN

Golden Triangle News Service

FAIRFIELD ? A Batavia man was arrested Tuesday for threats he directed at Fairfield High School.

Ilelabayo ?David? Olaniyi, 45, was charged with third degree harassment for three general harassment threats he made. Third degree harassment is a simple misdemeanor. Fairfield Police Chief Dave Thomas said FHS principal Aaron Becker called the police to inform them of the threats. Four police officers responded to the school shortly after 3 p.m.

According to a press release from the school district, the school did not go into lockdown, based on the recommendation from law enforcement, and activities went on as normal, such as the high school wrestling meet scheduled that evening.

?The high school followed current procedures that have doors locked during the school day,? stated the press release. ?Administration and staff keep student safety in the forefront of their decision-making. Students were safe on Tuesday. The Fairfield School District would like to thank Fairfield Police Department for their immediate response and dedication to the safety of our staff and students.?

Thomas said the threat was made through a phone call. After learning of the person?s identity, two Jefferson County Sheriff?s deputies led the investigation into finding and apprehending the subject, who was arrested at his residence in Batavia. Thomas said he was appreciative of the deputies? help since they know the surrounding towns so well.

Law enforcement have uncovered no evidence to suggest Olaniyi was going to act on his threats. Thomas said the threats were of a general nature toward the school and were not directed to any person in particular.

?Usually on these threats, it is an anger control issue,? Thomas said. ?We can?t assume someone is angry and not follow through. We have to take them seriously, and the school takes them seriously because they have to protect their students.?

Thomas explained that harassment in the first degree is an aggravated misdemeanor and refers to threatening to commit a forcible felony such as murder or arson. Harassment in the third degree refers to making a threat or intimidating a person but which does not rise to the level of a forcible felony. Second degree harassment is a charge specific to those who have been convicted of harassment two or more times in a 10-year period.

Before Olaniyi was arrested Tuesday, the Fairfield Police Department planned to have an officer at the wrestling meet that night, but once law enforcement determined there was no immediate threat after Olaniyi was placed in custody, the police decided not to send an officer to the meet.

School superintendent Laurie Noll said there was initially some miscommunication between the district and law enforcement because a press release issued today from the Jefferson County Attorney?s Office suggested the high school went into a lockdown Tuesday. Noll said the school was not locked down, but rather it was following its normal safety procedure of keeping all exterior doors locked during school hours.

Until this school year, students and visitors could enter the high school?s southwest doors as they pleased since they were left unlocked during school hours. That changed about a month and a half ago when the security system for the school was finished and all doors, including the south door by the office, were locked from the time school began until it dismissed.

To enter during school hours, students and visitors alike must press a button by the door near the office. A secretary can see who?s ringing the buzzer, and has the power to unlock the door remotely. Though this is a recent security upgrade for the high school, the other schools in the district have had such a system for at least a few years.

At the high school, multiple doors are left unlocked immediately before and after school to make it easy for students to enter the building. During lunch, since many students go home during that time, the door by the office is left unlocked.