Intruder Arrested at Fairlands Elementary School, Knives Recovered
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PLEASANTON — An intruder hiding inside a school was arrested while students were present. Fairlands Elementary School was under lockdown until the 32-year-old vagrant from Berkeley was hauled away. The suspect has been arrested 12 times so far this year.
Staff discovered the man inside a storage room on October 6. Staff monitored him until the police arrived. Meanwhile, students and teachers stayed inside locked classrooms with blinds closed, and lights turned off.
Rhodney Henderson was arrested at 11:16 a.m. Three knives were recovered, which Henderson may have taken from the school kitchen. More knives were found hidden inside a box outside a classroom.
Henderson apparently spent the night in the storage room and snacked on food from the school. Discarded food wrappers were found scattered on the floor.
Investigators determined the intruder climbed a fence and entered through an unlocked door, while custodians were cleaning. Surveillance video reviewed by investigators shows him climbing the fence the prior evening at 8:20 p.m.
Henderson faces multiple charges including second-degree burglary and possession of weapons on school grounds. He was booked into Alameda County Santa Rita Jail—again.
Henderson is a troublemaker. He has three convictions for exhibiting a deadly weapon. He was convicted twice for second-degree robbery and once for grand theft.
He was arrested 11 other times this year and released from custody. These arrests involved robberies, exhibiting a deadly weapon other than a firearm, among other offenses. Since September 2013, Henderson has been arrested 21 times.
