A Broward judge ordered David Burch held without bond Thursday, saying he believed the 28-year-old man "intentionally terrorized" children at a Fort Lauderdale elementary school when he screamed and waved his arms at them.
Broward Circuit Court Judge John Hurley said he viewed Burch's actions Wednesday near Bayview Elementary School against the backdrop of the Newtown, Connecticut school shooting last week.
Twenty-two children ages 7 and 8 were playing kickball on the field just south of the school when Burch, who was wearing camouflage pants, "started screaming and jumping up and down," Fort Lauderdale Police Officer Rick Rhodes said in court. "The physical education teacher had all the kids run back into the school for their safety."
Hurley, reading from a police report, said the kids were playing when Burch approached the fence and began "screaming in a very aggressive manner. One of the teachers observed Burch create a high level of fear in the 22 children."
Burch was later found by Rhodes in a wooded area near the school, Hurley added.
The judge noted that "the children and the teacher and the employee there, they were all in a heightened state of fear. And the backdrop to this is obviously what had just happened in Connecticut, where all those children were killed.
"So these children were in a unique position of emotional vulnerability, which never really probably ended until people knew that this man was apprehended," Hurley said.
Rhodes said that Burch behaved uncooperatively, and denied his behavior in front of the children.
Comment: Read the following articles to learm more about the recent Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre
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