Man in bulletproof vest arrested near Haviland Middle School with knife, rifle magazines
Hyde Park police identified the man as 54-year-old Daniel M. Prospero and say a search of his home Tuesday found no firearms.
More Stories
A man wearing camouflage and a bullet-resistant vest was taken into custody after being spotted near students on the grounds of Haviland Middle School in Hyde Park Monday afternoon, according to police.
Hyde Park police have identified the man as 54-year-old Daniel M. Prospero, of Hyde Park.
Police say the incident began around 1:30 p.m. while Sgt. McGaw was working as the school resource officer at Haviland Middle School and was outside with students.
According to police, a school monitor alerted McGaw to a suspicious man riding a bicycle through a field behind the school.
Police say McGaw saw Prospero, who was wearing camouflage, riding toward nearby Ralph R. Smith Elementary School and began looking for him.
Another school monitor told police Prospero had continued toward Route 9G. McGaw eventually located him on Violet Avenue near Hidden Brook Estates.
Police say Prospero was wearing a bullet-resistant vest and had a hunting-style knife and two high-capacity rifle magazines. One of the magazines contained several rounds of ammunition.
Police say Prospero was taken into custody under New York’s Mental Hygiene Law and transported to MidHudson Regional Hospital for evaluation and treatment.
Officers then searched the surrounding area for any additional evidence or items that may have been left behind.
The investigation continued Tuesday, when police obtained a Temporary Extreme Risk Protection Order signed by a state Supreme Court justice and executed a search warrant at Prospero’s home.
Police say no firearms were found inside the residence.
The department says it is continuing to investigate, with assistance from the Dutchess County District Attorney’s Office and the New York State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation.
The new details come as some parents continue to question how the school district handled the incident.
“The fact that he had a bulletproof vest on. He clearly wasn’t just going out for a bike ride,” said Haviland parent Alonna Lankard, who also administers the Hyde Park Moms and Dads Facebook group.
Lankard says parents were especially concerned that the school was not locked down or placed under another emergency protocol.
“There was no lockdown. There was no holding in place. There was nothing done during the time the kids were in school,” Lankard said.
She also questioned why families did not immediately receive notification from the district.
“People went nuts. The fact that they did not say a word to anyone until after 7 p.m.,” she said.
In a follow-up message Tuesday, Hyde Park Central School District Superintendent Dr. Pedro Roman said staff saw no evidence of weapons while Prospero was on campus and that administrators and law enforcement did not believe a lockdown or secure lockout was necessary based on the information available at the time.
Roman said the man was not confrontational when approached, apologized and continued riding his bicycle off campus. The district, however, says it is reviewing security and communication procedures as a response and is increasing “No Trespassing” signage.
Town Supervisor Al Torreggiani also said there would be an increased police presence at Haviland Middle School as an additional precaution.
Police have not announced criminal charges against Prospero.
Hyde Park police are asking anyone who may have seen Prospero near Haviland Middle School, Ralph R. Smith Elementary School, Violet Avenue or the surrounding area on Oct. 5 to contact the department at 845-229-9340.
