Two Fairfield schools went through level 1 lock-down procedures yesterday. Prompted by a suspicious male attempting to gain entry to Fairfield Middle School through a locked door around noon, both the middle school and Pence Elementary initiated lock-down status.

School employees took the measures after making contact with the man, identified as 36 year old Clifford Eugene Williams of Ottumwa. Fairfield Superintendent Art Sathoff says there was no direct threat and adds Williams didn’t attempt to interact with any of the children, staff just felt he didn’t have a purpose to be there.

The Fairfield Police Department arrested Williams for Interference with Official Acts. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

The level 1 lock-down required students that were outside for recess to go back inside the school. Level 1 is the least serious of Fairfields 3 levels of lock-down.