GROTON — A man was arrested early Friday after allegedly threatening to shoot children at a local school and expressing suicidal thoughts, according to the Groton Police Department.
Police officers were called to a business on Long Hill Road around 6:12 p.m. Thursday for a well-being check on Jacob D.
Clarke, 31, after a family member expressed concern for his safety.
The family member told officers that Clarke became agitated around 6 p.m. after a public address system activated at the Thames River Magnet School and threatened to use the family member’s gun to shoot kids at the school, despite there being no children present at the time.
Groton Police, with the help of a K-9 unit, drone, and assistance from Groton City and AMTRAK police, launched an extensive search.
They found a tent shelter in the woods near Kolnaski Elementary School, where a firearm was seized as evidence.
Clarke was located around 1:40 a.m. Friday near 470 Gold Star Highway and taken to L&M Hospital in New London for examination.
School officials were notified of the incident, which occurred while school was not in session.
Later that day, Groton Police obtained an arrest warrant for Clarke, charging him with first-degree threatening with the intent to terrorize and second-degree breach of peace.
He was taken into custody without incident and released on a $50,000 cash or surety bond.
Clarke, whose last known address is on 470 Gold Star Highway, is scheduled for arraignment at G.A. 10 in New London on Jan. 16.
The Groton Town Police Department urges anyone with information on criminal activity to contact them at (860) 441-6712.
