An ex-convict apparently high on cocaine confronted students and staff at Percy Priest Elementary School on Otter Creek Road just before 2 p.m. today.
Michael Street, 43, who is on parole until the year 2014, parked his car in the front lot of the school and walked to the rear playground where approximately 100 2nd graders were enjoying recess. Street yelled bizarre statements such as, “they’re going to get me,” and “they’re watching me.” He actually put his arm around at least one of the students on the playground for a few seconds. School staff called 911 and teachers began to move the students off the playground into the school building.
Music teacher James Mott was made aware of the commotion on the playground and intercepted Street as the children heading toward the school building. Street continued repeating his bizarre comments. Mott walked with Street at the rear of the building in an effort to keep him away from the students.
Street, who is six feet tall and weighs approximately 230 pounds, approached a door where students were entering, pushed some of them aside, and came into the school. Mott put Street into a bear hug and the two briefly wrestled. Street freed himself and walked down the hallway. He appeared to choose a classroom at random and began banging on the door (by this time the school had been placed on lockdown and the classroom doors were locked). Mott talked to Street and managed to calm him down, to the point that Street pulled out a crack pipe and tried to light it. Mott told Street that he could not do drugs in the school and managed to convince Street to walk with him out of the building.
Once out of the school, Street went to two parked cars and got into them. He also picked up a concrete block and smashed the window out of another car.
Street then went to the front door of the school and hit the reinforced glass so hard with his fist that he broke the glass and caused a severe laceration to his right arm.
Sergeant Steve Linn arrived as Street was at the front of the building. Street approached Linn on foot and began yelling, “Shoot me, shoot me.” Linn ordered Street to get onto the ground. Street refused.
Linn, with gun drawn, followed Street to his car. Street got into the vehicle, still ignoring Linn’s commands, and began to back out of the parking lot. He apparently saw other police cars coming down the street, pulled back into the school driveway, and got out of the car. Sergeant Linn and Officers Carl Stocks and Mike Neives ordered Street to the ground. Street refused and was wrestled to the ground by the three officers, who noticed white powder believed to be cocaine on his mouth and tongue. He was taken to General Hospital for treatment of the arm laceration and will face a variety of charges upon his release.
Street has no known connection to any staff or students at Percy Priest Elementary. It is not known why he stopped at that school.
Records reflect that Street has been charged with 45 various offenses in Nashville since 1982. According to the Criminal Court Clerk’s Office, Street was convicted of robbery and kidnapping offenses in 1994. In 1999, Street was convicted of kidnapping and received a 20-year sentence. He registered as an ex-con with the Metro Police Department in 2006. He is on parole until 2014.
Michael Street
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