Bowling Green police and fire divisions responded to a fire alarm at Crim Elementary Thursday around 11 p.m.
There was no fire, but they found a barefooted man trying to kick in a back door at the school. The man, Joe Schmidt, 53, of Third Street in Bowling Green, told police he was looking for his fishing pole because he wanted to go fishing, Police Chief Tony Hetrick said this morning. Hetrick said there was evidence of drug use by Schmidt.
Prior to trying to kick in the back door at the school, Schmidt apparently had gotten in the front vestibule area of the elementary where he pulled the fire alarm. He was not able to get past the vestibule area into the school, Hetrick said. Barefoot marks were found on the school’s front door, and the doorbell had been broken, the chief said.
Schmidt was charged with criminal trespassing and jailed at the Wood County Justice Center.
