MA Teacher Planted Bullet In School: PD

SOUTHBRIDGE, MA — A Southbridge High School teacher was arrested Thursday after he planted a bullet in the hallway of the school to "prove to the school that they needed to get metal detectors," police said. Alfred Purcell, of Woodstock, Connecticut, faces a host of charges. School officials locked down the building for an hour while police investigated.

Southbridge police said Purcell planted a live 9mm round in the back stairwell of the high school and then told administration he found it lying there, prompting the lockdown. The school resource officer and the school administration found out it was Purcell who planted the bullet based on security camera footage, police said.

During the lockdown, police were sent to secure the school and Purcell returned to his class with his students for an hour. After seeing the security footage, police arrested Purcell. At the station, Purcell told officers he planted the bullet to "prove to the school that they needed to get metal detectors." Police said officers could smell a faint odor of alcohol on his breath, but Purcell denied drinking any alcohol.

When police checked his car they found 102 live shells of .20-gauge shotgun ammunition in the trunk. Purcell's license to carry a firearm was expired in Connecticut, police said.

Purcell was charged with unlawful possession of ammunition, carrying ammunition on school grounds, disturbing a school assembly, disorderly conduct and disturbing the peace.

Southbridge is in Western Massachusetts along the Connecticut border.