A 20-year-old man alleged to have a history of impersonating police officers and claiming to be a soldier was arrested Monday after he roamed hallways and visited classrooms at Drum Intermediate School in University Place.

Pierce County sheriff’s spokesman Ed Troyer said Wednesday that the man isn’t connected to the recent series of fast-food restaurant robberies by two men impersonating police officers.

The man, spotted by school staff members, was wearing a military-style Kevlar vest with a folding knife affixed to his chest, a black long-sleeved T-shirt with “POLICE” written on the sleeves, military-style pants, an empty leg holster, a black beret and combat boots.

Staff members escorted him off campus and called University Place Police. He later was arrested for investigation of criminal impersonation, criminal trespass and possession of a weapon on school grounds. He was taken to the Pierce County Jail.

The News Tribune is not naming the man because he hasn’t been charged.

As a result of the incident, a Drum teacher was placed on paid administrative leave, University Place Superintendent Patti Banks said Wednesday. “The teacher may have played a role in securing a visitor’s pass” for the man, Banks said. She said the teacher will remain on leave until district administrators can investigate further.

The man – a former student at Drum – visited the classroom of a former teacher and several other classrooms. Banks said he talked with students about alleged tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan.

She said the man did not behave aggressively while he was on campus. Drum students are in grades five through seven. Many teachers recognized him as a former student, she added.

Police said the man is not a member of law enforcement or the military. Police said the man has been investigated for three similar incidents in Lakewood and Spanaway since early 2008. Each time he was arrested, police said. The outcomes of those arrests weren’t immediately available.

In February 2008, according to a special bulletin issued to law enforcement in December 2008, he went to his ex-girlfriend’s place of employment armed and wearing police apparel. Police said he attempted to handcuff her, claiming to have a warrant for her arrest.

A month later he was investigated for entering a business twice wearing police clothing, a badge, a vest and a gun in a thigh holster. He allegedly identified himself as a Pierce County sheriff’s narcotics officer.

On Dec. 8, 2008, Pierce County sheriff’s deputies contacted him in the parking lot at Challenger High School in Spanaway. Deputies said they found a starter pistol in a holster under the driver’s seat of his car. Inside the trunk they found body armor with a “police” patch on the front, a black T-shirt with “Narcotics Officer” on the front, a clown mask and a security hat.

Troyer said Wednesday that all of the incidents have been turned over to the Pierce County prosecutor.

Banks said school principals and staff were told again Tuesday about safety procedures. Those procedures say a principal must approve guest speakers, and that a building administrator must be notified any time a non-parent is in the school.

“We view this as serious,” said Banks. “It was a breach of our security protocols.”

Debbie Cafazzo: 253-597-8635

debbie.cafazzo@thenewstribune.com