Burglary suspect spotted on roof; Phoenix Christian High School placed on lockdown

PHOENIX - Phoenix Christian High School was placed on lockdown Wednesday morning until police were able to remove and arrest a burglary suspect who was spotted on the roof, police said.

The incident began to unfold at around 7:00 a.m., when one of the facility employees noticed an unknown man on the roof. The school called police right away, and went into lockdown.

"We know that he crossed one of the barriers of our school and made his way to one of the roofs of our school, and then proceeded from one roof to another," said Jeff Blake, Superintendent of Phoenix Christian Preparatory School.

Sgt. Mercedes Fortune says the suspect refused to cooperate with officers who resorted to use non-lethal means to take him into custody. The incident happened as students started their day, and those who were dropping off students saw the man on the roof. They were a bit surprised with all of the commotion.

"Just standing, calm. It seemed his hands were at his sides, or maybe even crossed. He was just standing straight," said a person who was dropping off a student, identified only as "Nathan."

The lockdown of the school was lifted after the suspect was removed from the roof, but classes were cancelled for the rest of the day, as a result.