Only on 5: Crossing guard: 'It was a threat' after man flashes gun during dispute
A man is facing charges after he allegedly threatened an Everett, Massachusetts, crossing guard with a gun.
The incident happened Tuesday morning as students were heading to class at Parlin Junior High School in Everett.
The crossing guard, who only gave his name as Roy, said he'd had an argument Monday with a woman about proper crossing procedures. Roy said on Tuesday morning, the woman's husband or boyfriend approached him, continued the argument and then raised his shirt to reveal a gun at his waist.
“It was like a revolver, almost like a pistol, yeah. With a black handle,” Roy said, adding, “It was a threat.”
Roy called 911 and police said 30-year-old Isaiah Blaise was arrested and charged with assault with a deadly weapon and threatening to commit a crime.
Blaise appeared in court Tuesday afternoon and was released without having to post bail. The judge, however, ordered Blaise to stay away from Roy.
Prosecutors said that Blaise is facing charges in another case from earlier this year, in which he is accused of pulling a knife on a store clerk. The judge also cited a 2010 case out of Arizona.
"Mr. Blaise, you are on a very, very, very thin patch of ice right now," the judge said.
After his court appearance, Blaise spoke with NewsCenter 5's John Atwater Tuesday night and said he did not show a gun to the crossing gun and did not have a gun on him at the time.
"I would never bring a gun in a kids' school," Blaise said. "All I said was: 'Bro, you disrespect my girl again, there's going to be problems.' And I kept walking."
During Blaise's court appearance, prosecutors said police did not find a firearm on the suspect's person while they were taking him into custody. Blaise also said police searched his son's backpack at the school.
Roy, 68, has been a crossing guard for four years. He's also retired from Army Special Forces and was wounded in Vietnam.
“I got shot in Vietnam, so, I know what it feels like. I know what it's like,” he said, adding he knows how to keep his cool.
Extra police were on duty Tuesday afternoon watching over students, families and Roy.
Everett police posted a request on Facebook: “Message for the day — it’s not easy being a crossing guard in densely populated areas. Please be nice to these people as they are doing a tough job in an effort to help our kids safely to/from school.”
Blaise's next scheduled court appearance is Nov. 4.