School burglary suspect arrested

Published 3:51 pm Thursday, April 7, 2011

An Atmore man is behind bars after investigators with the Atmore Police Department identified him as the lone vandal that broke into Escambia County High School twice over the weekend.

Officers arrested 40-year-old Michael Lafrance Williams earlier this week and charged him with two counts of third-degree burglary.

The break-ins were first discovered Sunday afternoon by ECHS Principal Zickeyous Byrd who discovered shattered glass from vending machines in the main lobby of the school and filing cabinets in several offices that had been rummaged through. A second break-in was discovered Monday morning after windows in the cafeteria were discovered broken.

In each burglary, it appears Williams was looking for money. It is believed that he got away with an undetermined amount of money from the vending machines in the first burglary and nothing as a result of the second break-in.

A search of Williams’ vehicle revealed several items taken during the burglary and used in the burglary.