WAKE FOREST, N.C. -- A Wake Forest man is facing trespassing charges after the sheriff’s office says he trespassed at an elementary school and refused to leave.

• The sheriff’s office says Arthur Kochetkov was trespassing on Jones Dairy Elementary School property a few weeks ago, but has since checked into a mental facility
• Kochetkov’s mother lives next to the school and said her son is an army veteran who suffered from bipolar disorder and PTSD
• Following this incident, the Wake County School District says there will now be more enhanced security at the school

The sheriff’s office says Arthur Kochetkov was trespassing on Jones Dairy Elementary School property a few weeks ago, but has since checked into a mental facility. That’s why it took nearly a month to make an arrest.

Neighbors took to social media expressing their concerns about this 33-year-old man spending time at the school, one saying on Facebook “I know some parents are keeping their kids home and not sending them to school. This is so unsettling.”

Kochetkov’s mother lives next to the school and said her son is an army veteran who suffered from bipolar disorder and PTSD.

He had no weapons and was simply walking in her backyard and wanted to sit on the swings.

She says he was unaware it was a school day. Kochetkov’s mom bailed him out of jail, and he is now due to appear in court tomorrow.

She’s pleading to residents in the community to have compassion and to care more about our veterans and people with mental illnesses.

Following this incident, the Wake County School District says there will now be more enhanced security at the school.