The man who forced a lockdown of a local elementary school is still behind bars tonight.

Sixty-four year old Larry Michael yearwood faces several charges including possession of a firearm by a convicted felon…and bringing a weapon onto school property.

Eddie Perry describes what his Grandson told him when he got home on Tuesday
“And he said Pop Ms. Manders said she went out to the car and said she saw a gun. Maybe a rifle and she went back in the car and called the police.” says Perry.

He lives right across from Fowler Drive Elementary. He says his grandson was the first to tell him about the arrest on Tuesday. The next day. He visited the school.

“I say what’s going on they say. Well we had got this situation taken care of that a guy came up on the school property looking for his wife” says Perry.

He believes this would not have happened if the school had stronger security

“Take care of the situation before that man or woman enters the building. If you got better security you should spot that person pulling in” he says

The Clarke County School Board of Education says an improvement is on the way.

“We know that we need these upgrades that are already being made. And it should get all of our schools up to a certain standard” says Anisa Jiminez of the Clarke County Board of Education.

Earlier this month, they approved over eight hundred thousand dollars in upgrades. This includes more cameras and a stricter security system at schools.
“When individuals enter those schools like our other schools, they will not be able to get passed that front reception area. There will be a security measure into getting back into the rest of the building” Jiminez says.

Back at Fowler Elementary, Mr. Perry says he just wants more human security

“In reality I just say more officers to protect and secure the school for the young ones.”