The Fall River Police Department investigated an incident that occurred on Friday involving an unauthorized individual entering Espirito Santo School.
According to police, at approximately 1:30 p.m., an adult male entered the school through an exterior door that was later determined to have a malfunctioning locking mechanism. The individual proceeded a short distance into the building before being confronted by an attentive faculty member who recognized that he did not belong there. The faculty member promptly escorted the individual out of the building without incident.
School administrators immediately took steps to secure the affected entrance and cooperated fully with the investigation.
Police say that at no point during the incident was there any reported physical confrontation, threat of violence, or injury to students or staff.
Through a coordinated investigative effort, including a review of surveillance footage, interviews with school personnel, and additional investigative measures, officers worked to identify and locate the individual.
On Saturday morning, Fall River Police officers successfully located and identified the individual as 37-year-old Joshua Halladay. During their interaction, officers observed signs that Halladay may have been experiencing a behavioral health crisis. He was subsequently transported to a local hospital for further evaluation. Halladay has also been charged for his actions regarding the unauthorized entry to the school.
As an additional precaution, the Fall River Police Department will be increasing its presence around all schools to provide reassurance to families and maintain a visible commitment to school safety.
FRPD has notified Fall River Public Schools, Local Charter Schools, and Diman Regional Vocational Technical High School of the incident. Additionally, all Fall River Police Officers are being briefed on the circumstances to ensure they remain informed, vigilant, and prepared to address any concerns.
