NEWS

Mom charged after showing 'faux handgun' at school

Claudette Riley
CRILEY@NEWS-LEADER.COM

A Springfield woman has been charged after allegedly brandishing a "faux handgun" that was actually a knife just outside an elementary school Friday.

Carrie Ann Brooks, 43, showed up at Pittman Elementary shortly before 3:15 p.m. Friday and attempted to pick up her 8-year-old daughter, even though she doesn't have custody.

It was the day before the girl's ninth birthday.

Brooks has been charged with felony unlawful use of a weapon and misdemeanor unlawful use of a weapon on school property. She remains in the Greene County Jail with a bond set at $35,000.

At dismissal Friday, Pittman staff were outside and reacted quickly when they saw Brooks attempt to lead the girl away from the school "by holding her upper arm." The girl was crying.

Principal Laura Batson and another school employee stopped Brooks on the northeast corner of the school property. They told her a school police officer was on the way.

"Brooks was described as belligerent, speaking loudly, fidgeting and 'definitely not sober,'" according to court documents used to charge the woman.

The girl was allowed to leave with an authorized adult who had arrived at the school to pick her up.

Batson told police Brooks then "took a small pistol in a holster-style case out of her right pants pocket, shifted it to her left hand, and then began walking to the west."

The principal immediately told students outside the school to get inside and the building was placed on lockdown. Minutes later, an AlertNow message went to parents explaining the situation.

"She did exactly what she was supposed to do," said J. Anderson, director of elementary operations.

According to the court documents, the principal told police that Brooks "did not point the weapon at her but she felt threatened due to the manner in which she removed it from her pocket, making it obvious she wanted employees to see it."

No injuries were reported.

A police officer who arrived at the school after the incident went to Brooks' home in the 2700 block of East Cozy Street. By 3:35 p.m., Brooks had been placed in handcuffs.

Asked where the gun was located, Brooks reportedly told police it was a knife.

Officers retrieved the weapon, which "closely resembled a small handgun with a metal frame and wooden handle, in a nylon case," according to court documents.

It had a "knife blade that flipped out from underneath the barrel."