Door Used By Davisville MS Suspect Had Faulty Lock

Police confirmed Tuesday that the man accused in the break in at Davisville Middle School gained entry through a door with a faulty lock. 

"Entry was made via an unsecured exterior door," said Det. Lt. Chris Emerson. 

"It was locked, but it was something that if you worked it, you could open it," said Supt. Phil Auger.

Police arrested Joseph Howell of North Kingstown, on May 16 for breaking into Davisville Middle School early May 13. He was charged with breaking & entering and vandalism.

Howell, who could be seen carrying bolt cutters in a photo taken from a surveillance video, used them to cut a hallway gate lock, Emerson said. "Breaking and entering does not require forced entry," he added.

Auger said the boiler room door, which is in the back of the school, is always locked. "The lock proved to be ineffective," he said. It has since been replaced.

The superintendent pointed to the recently-installed video cameras at various schools, including Davisville, as signs of upgraded security measures taken by the school department. He said school officials are continuing to review at security at the schools. 

Auger said he did not yet have an estimate for the damage at Davisville. Lt. Emerson said Howell used the bolt cutters in the vandalism. Among the items damaged were interior and exterior windows, doors, computers, and file cabinets. In addition, drawer were opened and the contents strewn around rooms.

Emerson reiterated that no person had been targeted in the incident.

NKHS assault

Correction: In the police log entry from May 21, NK Patch mistakenly reported the suspect was charged with assault with a dangerous weapon. Police said there was no weapon used in the incident. I regret the error.

NKHS Principal Tom Kenworthy and Supt. Auger were reluctant to give specific information about the incident last week in which a student was assaulted by another student – the assailant was charged with delinquent assault – citing privacy concerns.

"It was fully investigated," said Kenworthy. "When these incidents happen – and they are few and far between – we follow through with appropriate discipline."

"We dealt with it according to school policy," said Auger. 

Neither man would say whether other students were involved or had been disciplined.

Said Kenworthy, "I think our parent base understands that we take these things seriously."