Police arrest man accused of breaking into Gaithersburg Elementary

Friday, Oct. 13, 2006

County police have arrested a man they say ransacked an office at Gaithersburg Elementary School before attempting to flee with a set of keys.

Joseph Donahue Woodyard, 38, of no fixed address, allegedly broke into the school at 35 North Summit Ave. around 1:30 a.m. on Oct. 9, setting off school alarms.

Police officers found Woodyard climbing out a broken window shortly after they arrived on the scene, according to county police.

Officers apprehended him and took him into custody, discovering that Woodyard had allegedly taken a set of keys from the school, said Officer Melanie Hadley, a county police spokeswoman.

Hadley could not say what the keys open or whether they could be used on exterior doors.

‘‘It looks like he ransacked an office, but didn’t take anything else,” Hadley said.

Woodyard is charged with second-degree burglary, fourth-degree burglary, fourth-degree burglary with intent to commit theft, malicious destruction of property over $500 and theft under $500.

He allegedly broke two windows at the school, one on the exterior of the building and another leading into an administrative office, Hadley said. The school alarm was still blaring when Woodyard was apprehended.

He is being held at the Montgomery County Detention Center on a $200,000 bond.