Officials: Disgruntled employee prompts lockdown at China Grove Elementary

ROWAN COUNTY, N.C. — Channel 9 has received new details on what caused a code yellow lockdown at an elementary school in Rowan County.

WSOC-TV reported a disgruntled employee forced the district to put the school on lockdown Thursday morning.

Channel 9 reporter Dave Faherty obtained an arrest warrant that spells out why the district was worried about students' safety.

Many of the parents Faherty spoke with had no idea the reason behind the lockdown.   

The police chief said it came as a precaution as officers went to charge one of the school's teachers here at her home.   

Faherty could see parents from China Grove Elementary scramble to pick up their children.    

By 1 p.m. more than 100 students were pulled out of the school after parents got a call about a code yellow lockdown.  

"It was very frightening, very frightening. We got here as soon as we could.   It is chaos in the school," said mother Tatum Smith. "(It was) something to do with an employee making a threat. That's all I know."

The school district confirmed to Faherty the superintendent decided on the lockdown because of concerns over a disgruntled employee.   

Not only were the doors locked at the elementary school but also at the school district offices in Salisbury.   

"Our superintendent has been on the phone with law enforcement since last night and made the decision that as a precautionary measure let's go into code yellow," said Public Information Officer Rita Foil.

Police said they went to Rebecca Daniel's home Thursday morning and charged the teacher with misdemeanor assault on an 8-year-old.   

The warrant said she grabbed him by the arm and pulled him, and poked  him in the chest while scolding him.   

The police chief said the lockdown was a precaution because of the arrest.   

But that information was never given to the parents Faherty spoke with Thursday.

"I come to pick her up because I'm scared for her safety, just in case, just in case that's right," said father Michael Hiatt.

Faherty went to Daniel's home where her husband said she didn't want to talk with us.

Channel 9 is still trying to find out if she is still employed with the district.

Read more top stories on WSOCTV.com:

WSOC