Mooresville Man Arrested After Glass Broken At I-SS Meeting

TROUTMAN, NC —A Mooresville man was arrested last week in connection to property damage at the Career Academy and Technical School in Troutman. The damage occurred during a protest outside of the Sept. 13 Iredell-Statesville School Board Meeting, the Troutman Police Department said.

According to a police report, Michael D. Bowman was arrested on Sept. 15 and charged with misdemeanor disorderly conduct by violent conduct and misdemeanor injury to personal property. He appeared before a magistrate and received a $4,500 unsecured bond, police said.

According to police, a protest outside the school board meeting resulted in a glass door "being shattered by the actions of an individual outside the meeting protesting."

Troutman police said they identified Bowman as a suspect after conducting a thorough investigation into the incident, obtaining written statements and reviewing video surveillance footage.

Police said they were unable to locate Bowman when they went to his residence on Sept. 15 to make an arrest, but Bowman later turned himself in to authorities.

According to Troutman police, Bowman agreed to make a statement to the media when he learned the department would be putting out a press release about the incident.

"I highly regret my actions," Bowman said, according to Troutman police. "Things got heated and there was misplaced anger. Nothing like this has ever happened to me before and it never will again. I acted disgracefully to law enforcement and didn't show them the respect they deserve”

Troutman police said Bowman also apologized for his behavior to a Troutman officer who was at the scene of the incident.

In a statement, Troutman police thanked people who came forward to provide information about the incident.

The department said the investigation is ongoing, and that criminal actions may be issued against other individuals in connection to the events of Sept. 13.

"The town of Troutman and the Troutman Police Department request civility and peaceful assembly at any future school board meetings," the department said in a statement. "There will be a (zero) tolerance for criminal misconduct."