A suspicious individual was taken into custody near Cumberland County High School yesterday. The Cumberland County Sheriff's Office reported that a school resource officer detained Robert Alva Sardella, a 33-year-old from Maryville, after he raised concerns on campus while allegedly searching for a driving school.
According to WVLT, the arrest occurred off-campus, just after 8:30 a.m. yesterday. Director William Stepp of Cumberland County Schools, looking to assuage parental concerns, assured there "is no current threat to students," a sentiment was reflected in the quick apprehension of Sardella, which occurred before a lockdown was deemed necessary.
Law enforcement officers found Sardella in possession of a variety of weapons including a loaded handgun, a taser, an expandable baton, a chemical weapon, and additional ammunition concealed in a backpack. According to a report by WBIR, Sardella has now been charged with multiple offenses that include carrying weapons on school property.
The District Threat Task Force, which includes local, state, and federal agencies, led by the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office was alerted by the school district and took part in the investigation. Detained on Fourth Street after being on the high school’s campus, the individual has since been arrested and is currently held on a $55,000 bond at Cumberland County Jail while awaiting a court date. In a statement obtained by WATE, officials have confirmed that the investigation into this incident is ongoing.
