Franklin police seeking school intruder

Editor's note: This story was updated to include an arrest made.

FRANKLIN — An Ogdensburg man was arrested after borough police investigated the suspicious person who entered the Franklin Borough School on Monday,
Police said Alex J. Theobold, 20, was arrested at his home in Ogdensburg and the investigation revealed no apparent malicious intent and no students or faculty were harmed during the incident.
Franklin police plan to continue to show a presence at the school.
Police responded to the school at 3:10 p.m. and school officials revealed the unidentified male entered the building at about 2:30 p.m. The pending investigation revealed that students leaving the building via a side door had incidentally let a male inside the school building. The male walked amongst the students and faculty for approximately 30 minutes before being noticed and left prior to police arrival.
Police said the male entered multiple lavatories throughout the school for unknown reasons.
A search of the School yielded negative results. A detection canine was called to the school to check for explosives, and that search also yielded negative results.
In a letter sent home to parents, Chief School Administrator John R. Giacchi called the incident "extremely unsettling" as he assured parents that all necessary precautions are being taken to to prevent a similar occurrence in the future.
"The safety and security of the students and staff has been, and will remain the top priority at Franklin school," he wrote in the letter.
Faculty met to review the incident Tuesday morning and Giacchi addressed the students on Tuesday to reinforce the importance of noticing a staff member if they become aware of anyone or anything unusual in the building.
As a future precausiton, exit from from the building during dismissal will be limited to doors that are manned by a staff monitor to make sure all entrances are monitored.
Anyone who has additional information regarding this incident is encouraged to contact the Franklin Borough Police Department – Detective Daniel Flora – dflora@franklinpd.org or call at 973-8277700 extension 237.