For Immediate Release                                                                                Date 2-14-18                                                   Suspicious Person at Sylvania School

Chief Deputy Michael Edmondson states as follows:

                                Approximately 7:30pm on Tuesday February 13, 2018 the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office received a call from a teacher at Sylvania School concerning an unidentified male subject. The subject was unknown to the teachers and several students claimed that the unknown subject appeared to have a firearm with him. After the 911 call was placed the faculty took appropriate action to place students and the school on lockdown. From the time of the call, the first officer was on scene within 3 minutes. The following departments responded: DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office, Sylvania Police Department, Henagar Police Department, Rainsville Police Department, Fort Payne Police Department, Alabama State Troopers, DeKalb County Drug Task Force, and DeKalb County Special Response Team. Along with law enforcement personnel, DeKalb County Superintendent Dr. Jason Barnett, DeKalb County School Board member Matt Sharp, Sylvania Principal Wesley King also responded and stayed on scene to assist law enforcement until the subject was in custody. When officers arrived, all buildings on school campus were searched and secured. Once the scene was deemed safe, the students were released to their parents. Law enforcement obtained a photo of the subject from the school surveillance system and released to the public for assistance in identifying the subject. Calls were received almost immediately after the release of the photo with information pertaining to the subjects’ name and possible whereabouts. From the tips received and subsequent investigation, it was determined that the subject was Cole Joseph Barnes, 21, of Sylvania. Barnes was located at his residence on Blue Pond Boulevard in Sylvania, just a couple of miles from the school. When Barnes was located he was detained without incident for questioning to the situation at Sylvania School. During the investigation, it was determined that the firearm in question was actually a pellet pistol. After the investigation was concluded, Barnes was arrested and charged with criminal trespass 3rd, menacing, and disorderly conduct. Barnes is currently being held in the DeKalb County Detention Center awaiting bond.

                Chief Edmondson states, “We appreciate every agency that responded to assist at Sylvania School. We are thankful for a great working relationship with all surrounding agencies. The protection of our children is of the upmost importance to us at the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office.”