Franklin man charged with possession of concealed weapons
Published 7:12 pm Friday, September 27, 2019
FRANKLIN
A 73-year-old Franklin man is in custody following an incident on Friday morning in which Franklin Police officers were dispatched to Camp Community College’s Franklin campus in reference to a disorderly subject.
According to Sgt. Scott Halverson, spokesman for the police department, the city’s communications center received the call from the college at 10:59 a.m. Officers who arrived on scene encountered the suspect, identified as Jake Burton, inside the school. Police say Burton was discovered to be in possession of several concealed knives.
Burton has been charged with disorderly conduct and possession of concealed weapons. He is being held without bond at the Western Tidewater Regional Jail.
College President Dr. Dan Lufkin issued the following statement in response to the incident:
“At approximately 11 a.m., an individual entered the Franklin campus and was immediately recognized as an individual of concern. Upon conversation with this individual, staff requested assistance from the Police Department. Safety staff detained the individual until the arrival of the police. Upon arrival the police apprehended the individual and later discovered concealed weapons. The individual was arrested and taken into custody. Many thanks to our Department of Public Safety for their quick observation and their ability to resolve this safety issue expeditiously.
“Unfortunately in this day and time, we live in a world of uncertainty, and it is always best to err on the side of caution. I would like to remind everybody of a very important message that empowers us to do our part to protect ourselves and others. The Department of Homeland Security has a National “If You See Something, Say Something” campaign. This is an awareness campaign that also educates the public about reporting suspicious activity.”
To report suspicious activity please contact your local law enforcement. Describe specifically what you observed, including: who or what you saw, when you saw it, where it occurred, why it’s suspicious. If there is an emergency, call 9–1–1. Please feel free to visit the DHS website to learn more. https://www.dhs.gov/see-something-say-something/about-campaign.