A strange incident took place at Windmill Point Elementary School on Thanksgiving night that sent shockwaves in the local community. Police found a 34-year-old teacher, Joe Urias, naked inside a classroom with some weird items, including sex toys, women’s underwear, and marijuana.
The discovery came after a witness phoned law enforcement regarding suspicious activity at the elementary school, serving students from grades K-5. The police report stated that the officers found Urias naked in the classroom. When he saw the deputy, he began desperately dressing himself and tried to flee.
As Urias ran towards the door, he allegedly punched a responding deputy in the face as he was physically fighting with him. The backup officers arriving at the scene were able to overcome him and take him into custody. A makeshift sleeping area was found in the classroom, further indicating that Urias had spent some time inside the school, investigators said.
Urias was subsequently charged with the following:
- Lewd and lascivious behavior
- Burglary of an unoccupied structure
- Possession of Marijuana
- Battery on a law enforcement officer
He is currently being held in St. Lucie County Jail on a $31,000 bond, according to court records.
Curiously, Urias had no affiliation with Windmill Point Elementary School and instead taught at Somerset College Preparatory Academy, a local charter school. Somerset has since released a statement saying Urias is no longer employed at their institution.
“We have addressed the matter administratively and are taking all measures to prevent this individual from ever returning to our campus,” it added. Somerset officials also referred to their high vigilance in keeping everyone safe on campus with employee background checks.
During questioning, Urias said he was homeless and gained entry to the elementary school via an open window. Authorities are now investigating how and why he ended up targeting the place called Windmill Point Elementary. Quick action in response to an alert witness saw police arrest Urias for allegedly trying to have child sex. According to a witness, he reportedly described something suspicious and thereafter called the police.
The incident has driven several messages home on community awareness to report suspicious activities for police action in maintaining public safety. While Somerset College Preparatory Academy responded to the employment status of Urias, no response has come either from the parents or staff at Windmill Point Elementary School. The incident, however, has greater implications for the issue of security in schools and vigilance required to keep the educational environment safe from intrusions.
