Student found after threat in Suffield

SUFFIELD, Conn. (WTNH/AP) - Police in Suffield say they have found a 19-year-old Lincoln Tech Institute student who threatened to shoot someone and got into a fight with a campus security guard.

Police say Dale Wakefield was found walking down the road near the Walgreens on Route 159 in Windsor Locks. Police used pings from the GPS of his cell phone to locate him.

Wakefield was fine, but tired and despondent after being on the run for 7 hours.

Police say he threw a buck-knife into a nearby creek and will be charged.

Suffield's police chief told News 8 that Wakefield was despondent over the death of his dad.

Police say he was under the influence of alcohol and suddenly "went ballistic," picking up tables, smashing windows and fighting with a security guard.

Police say Wakefield never said had a gun and never actually said he'd shoot someone. Police found pellets for a BB gun in his room.

Authorities believed he might have been a threat to himself and others.

At first police evacuated the dorm, then pings determined he was not on campus. Students were then allowed back into the dorm.

Police say their response was justified.

"Due to the nature of his outburst and it being on a school campus we did take this rather seriously," said Chief Michael Manzi.

The search was scaled back to public places where police thought he would be trying to get warm.

Police in Suffield and surrounding towns took part in the search.

At this point it is unclear if the school will take any disciplinary action against Wakefield.