A spokesperson for the Southern Pines Police Department said 20-year-old Damitri Johan Shaheed Vamper is charged with two felony counts of attempted kidnapping and possession of marijuana after the incident in the 1400 block of W. Indiana Avenue just after 9 a.m. Thursday.
According to an arrest report, Vamper walked into the Head Start building, produced an ID card, and said he was there to collect two children.
Head Start workers did not recognize Vamper, and an investigation showed he had no relationship with the two children he claimed he was there to pick up.
"He said, 'What, I can't have these children? I'll kill if I have to,'" recalled Head Start Director Veleda McCormick. "And I said 'Well baby, you're not going to kill anybody here today, I'mma need you to leave the building.' and at that point is when I got him out of the building."
McCormick said once she was able to get Vamper out of the building, the police were called and the Head Start program was put into lockdown. Vamper was arrested a short distance away from the school.
Police said they found him directing traffic at Highway 15 and Morganton Road. Vamper was taken to the Moore County Jail where he was being held under a $150,000 bond.
Vamper's grandfather spoke with our sister station, WTVD-TV in North Carolina Friday. He told us his grandson is bipolar, schizophrenic and was in the hospital a couple of days ago.
"When I heard, I said 'Oh God, what has this boy done now?" said Joseph Vamper.
___________________________________________________________
Take ABC13 with you!
Download our free apps for iPhone, iPad, Android and Blackberry devices
