The school locked down, called parents and sent shockwaves through a community after a crossing guard spotted a suspicious man.
Now the Mauldin Police have made an arrest and Detective Benjamin Ford says the school did almost everything right.
"The person may be harmless, and most of the case they are, but in this case that man wasn't he was up to no good," Ford said.
Police arrested 23-year-old Octavio Altamirano after releasing a sketch and detailed description of Altamirano's car. He's charged with disturbing school and first degree harassment.
Last Friday a crossing guard at the school said she saw a man watching children through binoculars and asked him why he was there. The man, she said, drove off and resumed his activities from another location.
Later a teacher told police she confronted the strange man in the school drop off line as he was talking with a student member of the safety patrol.
The school called police and then sent an automated message to parents. The principal said the crossing guard and the teacher were right to act as they did.
Mauldin Police said they are continuing with the investigation and there could be additional charges. 7 On Your Side went to Altamirano's home but was unable to speak with him.
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