It all unfolded last Friday during a Clay High School wrestling match. Board president PJ Kapfhammer says he saw a suspicious man in the school weight room. After asking him his name and getting no response, the board leader went on to yell and curse at the man, who was autistic.
"I literally wanted to make sure that person was in there for the right reasons," says Kapfhammer. "Knowing now what I know, I understand exactly why he did that and I know that he was probably scared to death and that's why he wouldn't answer. But I didn't know that."
It turns out the man was an honorary manager of the Clay High baseball team. The 25-year-old victim's mother filed a complaint with police.
"Mr. Kapfhammer did follow our school safety protocol," says superintendent, Dr. Michael Zalar. "When you see someone in the building who you don't recognize, our protocol is to ask them to identify themselves."
The superintendent calls the situation disappointing, but isn't sure if any disciplinary actions will come next.
"We're hopeful that at some point both parties can sit down and talk to each other work out a solution that meets both their interests."
Kapfhammer says he's very interested in making amends with the man and his family. The school board president is apologetic, but believes his actions were justified.
"Everyday we turn on the TV and they're shooting at buses, they're going into schools," says Kapfhammer. "And quite truthfully, safety is the number one for the kids in this community and in my heart that's what we have to make sure of."
The victim's mother did contact 13abc Tuesday night to say she does not be live this was all one big misunderstanding, but is looking forward to the investigation continuing. Police expect to turn over the case to the prosecutor by the end of the week.
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