Armed teacher stops stranger from abducting 11-year-old at recess, Utah police say

A teacher checking on kids on a Utah school playground spotted a 41-year-old intruder grab an 11-year-old girl Tuesday, police say.

The teacher dashed outside and shouted at the man, giving the girl a chance to break away, and all the children outside ran into a classroom, the Ogden City Police Department reported.

But the intruder, identified by police as Ira Cox-Berry, began punching a classroom window, prompting the teacher to draw a gun and hold him at bay until officers arrived, officials said.

“A teacher intervened when there was a situation that threatened students’ safety,” Jer Bates of the Ogden School District told KTVX. “This teacher, this school employee, is a hero.”

Lt. Brian Eynon of the Ogden City Police Department also praised the teacher, who has a concealed carry permit, for taking it “upon himself to protect and be a hero, frankly, for the children,” according to the station. The teacher who intervened has not been publicly identified.

Investigators have found no connection between Cox-Berry, who has been charged with kidnapping, and the girl, police said. The girl was unhurt.

Eynon told The Standard-Examiner that Cox-Berry “appeared to be high on narcotics.”

The school was briefly placed on lockdown after the 2:30 p.m. incident, according to the publication. Counselors were at the campus Wednesday.

Ogden is located about 40 miles north of Salt Lake City.

This story was originally published May 27, 2021 at 11:56 AM with the headline "Armed teacher stops stranger from abducting 11-year-old at recess, Utah police say."