Man charged with trespassing Collier elementary school

The Collier County Sheriff’s Office said they responded to a complaint about a suspicious person at Highlands Elementary School on Wednesday, September 4th.

A witness claims they saw a man gazing into classroom windows before entering a back building and climbing over a school fence.

The individual was later identified as Steven Clifford Gonzalez, according to a recent article by Ella Rhoades of FOX4

The suspect was later discovered heading southbound on North 9th Street, near Glades Street.

According to a police complaint and a school announcement, pupils were secured as the incident occurred after school hours, delaying parent pick-up by about 20 minutes.

According to Collier County Public Schools, the suspect did not enter the building through a normally closed door or gate.

“This is not an example of a lapse in safety protocols. Collier County Public Schools, on the other hand, intends to use this internally as a good training opportunity to demonstrate the necessity of prompt action and adequate safety protocols being followed to keep children and staff safe,” according to a statement from the district.

Deputies say Gonzalez failed to register as a convicted felon in Collier County within the time frame specified.

His earlier crimes included burglary, trespassing, and loitering.

Gonzalez was arrested for the following:

Trespassing on school grounds, disrupting school functions, and failing to register as a convicted felon.

This article originally appeared on FOX4.