Man with sharp object arrested outside Hendricks Avenue Elementary

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- When April Andrews showed up to pick up her son Gabriel from Hendricks Avenue Elementary today, she was just happy to see him in one piece.

At 1:30 she received an automated reverse 911 call from the Jacksonville Sheriffs Office, saying the school had been on lockdown.

"I was terrified and the fact they didn't want to give me any information wasn't helping at all," said Andrews.

Action News went straight to police to find out what happened.

A suspicious person holding a piece of sharp plexiglass shaped like a knife had approached 31 students and a teacher near the playground during recess.

The man whose first name police say is Zabiollah allegedly told the teacher he was crazy and she was fearful he would attack.

The incident left parents like Andrews just happy police intervened before he could.

"It's really nerve-racking especially with all the things that have gone on lately in the schools."

Police say the suspect appeared to have mental issues and did not speak much English. He told police he was from Kabul and had taken an unknown amount of pills.

Zabiollah was arrested on charges of trespassing and aggravated assault.