Police said a man's threats increased security measures at two Norwalk schools this week.
Norwalk Police / Contributed PhoNORWALK — Police said phone calls from a man who feared the U.S. government was trying to harm him prompted security measures at two city schools this week.
On Tuesday morning, school officials said West Rocks Middle School and Brien McMahon High School were briefly placed under "secure order," due to threats "outside the building."
According to police, the troubling messages began hours earlier.
Overnight and early that morning, Norwalk police dispatch received phone calls from an "unstable male who believed his life was in danger, and that the federal government was to blame," Lt. Joseph Dinho said.
He said officers attempted to locate the man for a welfare check.
That morning, messages were left at the two schools, and both were placed in secure mode "out of an abundance of caution," Dinho said.
Police later located the suspected caller at a Shell gas station on Connecticut Avenue. The 35-year-old city resident was charged with breach of peace and issued a summons to appear in court on Feb. 10. He was taken to Norwalk Hospital for evaluation.
"It was determined that there was no threat to the schools and they were returned to normal status," Dinho said.