Man, 22, accused of posing as teen to enroll in Twin Cities high school
There is palpable outrage and calls for accountability after a 22-year-old man posing as a teenager enrolled at White Bear Lake Area High School in White Bear Lake, Minnesota.
In a letter to families, principal Russell Reetz confirmed the man used fraudulent documents and false identity to enroll as a student, adding, "the individual in question is currently in police custody and is not allowed on any district property."
Reetz also said school officials "followed our enrollment process, which is as rigorous as state law allows."
White Bear Lake police said they were notified of the situation on Monday evening, and the man had already been arrested by another law enforcement agency and booked into Anoka County Jail "on unrelated charges."
Police said Wednesday he had been transferred to the Washington County Jail, again on unrelated charges. That jail on Thursday said he is being released.
WCCO has learned the arrest was for violating the terms of his probation, related to a 2023 conviction in Washington County for sending a nude photo of himself to a 15-year-old girl.
A spokesperson with Forest Lake Area School District told WCCO the suspect played for the football team in the 2022 season, and was a student at Forest Lake High School until 2023.
A man who lives down the road from the high school told WCCO the suspect had been staying with him and his family. He said he had no idea the 22-year-old was going to the school, and assumed he was going to work despite not having any transportation.
Parents, students react
April Jorgenson, who has three children at the school, broke down in tears while talking with WCCO on Tuesday. She said she is overwhelmed that the suspect slipped through the cracks.
"I'm scared that they're not keeping our kids safe. I don't understand how this man got into my kid's school," Jorgenson said. "You need to have a record and you need to have a physical to do these activities. We just can't figure out how this happened."
Students are even more rattled.
"The superintendent should step down," said a student who wished to remain anonymous. "I think the people who were overseeing this issue and let this slip past they need to face the consequences."
Lawmaker calls for change, superintendent's resignation
State law allows students to attend public school until 21, if they enroll before turning 21. As for verifying a student's age, the law states that public schools "may request documentation" like a passport, birth certificate, health records or affidavit from a parent.
The school is in District 36, led by Republican state Rep. Elliott Engen, who's also a graduate of the high school. Engen is calling for tougher laws and demanding the superintendent step down.
"So many things have to go wrong for this to occur. First and foremost, it starts at the top," Engen said. "Leadership needs to be held accountable. Parents should trust that when their kids go to school, they're going to be safe."
White Bear Lake police said they are "actively investigating this case in close partnership with the White Bear Lake Area School District staff, who have been fully cooperative," and no charges have been filed yet.
"Our investigators are pursuing possible criminal violations related to fraud, forgery, and unlawful conduct involving interactions with minors," police said.
If you know of a child who may have been a victim of exploitation, call the National Center for Missing or Exploited Children at 1-800-843-5678 or visit the website.