Brick Man Arrested After Entering Point Boro School
Intrusion incident has spurred change in neighboring district's entry policy
A Brick man entering Memorial Middle School in Point Pleasant Borough early Friday morning prompted school officials to change policies regarding students coming to school early for breakfast.
John J. Kokinda Jr., 53, who lives at the Tip Top Cabins on Route 88, was charged with unlicensed entry of a structure, said Point Borough Police Captain Richard Larsen.
He entered the school through an unlocked door on the side of the building near the softball field before staff and students were there, said Schools Superintendent Vincent Smith.
He used the bathroom for about 70 minutes before a few students happened to discover him there, Larsen said. Students reported him to staff, a custodian escorted him out and police arrested him at Old Drift Road and Moore Avenue and ultimately released him on his own recognizance, Larsen said.
Larsen said he did not want to release Kokindas full statement, but said that he had used the bathroom and was washing up "for a period of time."
"It doesn't seem like he was in there to prey on children," Larsen said. "It seems he just wanted to use the bathroom facilities."
The school had been open early so students could come for breakfast before classes. The Point Boro district is no longer allowing students to arrive at 6:30 a.m. following the incident.
paulie
1:42 pm on Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Great security.
School failed
2:19 pm on Wednesday, May 30, 2012
that should be titled " POINT BORO FAILS ITS SECURITY"
Comfortably Numb
5:01 pm on Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Tip Top Cabins...explains everything.
trash
8:25 pm on Wednesday, May 30, 2012
I thought that was in Point?? must be the border of the 2 towns
Daniel Nee
8:39 pm on Wednesday, May 30, 2012
You may be thinking of Wenke's Motel in Point Boro. They look pretty similar from the road.
Just Saying
9:06 pm on Wednesday, May 30, 2012
He is just a poor homeless person wanting to wash up. he is harmless. I recall Point Pleasant students taking food and clothing and supplies to the homeless in Lakewood. This poor guy probobly just figured , hey , I will wash up in their schools restroom.
pTpoint
10:24 pm on Wednesday, May 30, 2012
yeah Point Pleasant WILL go to the homeless, But dont want any in their space. Iam sure MOST Point children dont even realize how easy it is to become homeless these days, They cant even imagine Not having a cell phone or only having 1 BATHROOM in their home ...OMG!! scary that it was that easy to just walk into a school, whats the alternative... 3 hots & a sqat.
Jen
12:04 am on Thursday, May 31, 2012
These days it is frightening that this school.had some random door unlocked where this guy could slip right in. Most schools that I have been involved with only allow entry at the front door, which is monitored. Point Boro needs to stop their lax attitude about security. I know a lot of people in town who don't lock their cars or homes or they let their young kids ride their beach cruisers all over the place alone. Seriously, they are stuck in a 1950s mindset. Too scary of a world these days to be that laid back.
clamdigger
5:53 am on Thursday, May 31, 2012
it would be interesting to know how they came to the conclusuion he used the bathroom for 70 minutes. not that unauthorized people should be wandering through schools, but the guy obviously needed to use the facilities,i guess none of you ever needed to get to a bathroom with the urgent call of "mother nature" creeping up on you especially for 'ole #2.
At least he wasn't arrested for public indecency of any sort, hopefully the charges will be dropped against this guy,
Gmom
5:47 pm on Thursday, May 31, 2012
Yea, but there are bathrooms plenty if other places....why was he even lingering around a school that early in the morning? He may have just been a guy who needed a bathroom.....but he also could have been a child predator. At least no child was harmed here, but if I were a parent of a kid at that school I would be outraged by the complete negligence in security measures.