Lakeland man accused of checking doors at Wauchula Elementary while kids were in class

What we know:

According to the Wauchula Police Department, officers responded to a report of a suspicious person at Wauchula Elementary School around 3 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 21.

Courtesy: Wauchula Police Department.

Dig deeper:

Investigators also learned that Stephens has a history of similar incidents in other Florida jurisdictions. 

They said Stephens confirmed he was involved in the incident and provided details only the suspect would have known, according to authorities. 

In a post on social media, Wauchula police wrote, in part, “It is important to note that the safety measures and security protocols that Hardee County School District employees train on and practice regularly were effective. These procedures prevented the subject from gaining access to students or classrooms, and all children remained safe throughout the incident.”