By Nathan Hardin
nhardin@salisburypost.com
Three East Rowan High School students were arrested Friday after authorities said one of them pulled out a 3-inch knife at the school.
According to arrest warrants, 18-year-old Joey Ward was charged with misdemeanor possession of a weapon on campus and disorderly conduct Friday afternoon.
Ward “disrupted the learning environment at East Rowan High School by displaying a large 3” knife and requiring the school to enter a state of lockdown,” an arrest warrant stated.
The school went into code red lockdown about 12:30 p.m., according to emergency radio communications.
During a code red lockdown mode, school administrators work under the direction of law enforcement officers, classes are stopped and no one is allowed in or out of the buildings.
Rowan-Salisbury School System Spokeswoman Rita Foil said the lockdown ended after the student was later located off campus.
Ward was at his home when officers arrived.
He was released after posting a $1,500 bond Friday afternoon.
As School Resource Officer W.R. Walker told students to return to class following the lockdown, two students refused to listen, authorities said.
Walker charged 18-year-old Chris Glass and 16-year-old Simone Blackwell with resisting, obstructing or delaying an officer.
They were each given $300 bonds.
The Rowan County Sheriff’s Office did not immediately respond to requests for comment Friday afternoon.
 
Contact reporter Nathan Hardin at 704-797-4246.
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