Originally posted Fri, 2009-09-11 00:24
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Courtesy photo/NSB police. Kareen Walshaed McNeal, 28, of New Smyrna Beach, a registered sexual predator, was arrested Thursday on charges of imperonating a law enforcement officer and carring a firearm on school property after he was seen the last couple of days at Chisholm Elementary School carrying a handgun and claiming to be a federal drug agent, police said.
NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- A tip led to the arrest Thursday of a 28-year-old registered sexual predator seen hanging around the Chisholm Elementary School on Ronnoc Lane and armed with what appeared to be a handgun and claiming to be a federal drug enforcement agent, New Smyrna Beach police said.
Kareen Walshead McNeal was arrested at 2 p.m. at 530 North Dixie Freeway after the caller told police he was seen earlier Thursday and Wednesday with a firearm at Chisholm Elementary.
"The caller told officers the subject was claiming to be a Federal Drug Enforcement Agent," police Sgt. Eugene Griffith said. "After hearing another parent say the subject could be a sexual predator, the caller went home and identified the subject from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement Sexual Offender/Predator website as: Kareen McNeal."
Officers later located McNeal at 531 N. Dixie Freeway, where the caller positively identified him as the person she saw armed with a handgun at the school, claiming to be a DEA agent, Griffith said.
During the investigation, officers recovered a BB gun from McNeal's residence, which resembled a full size semi-automatic handgun.
McNeal was arrested and charged with Impersonating a law enforcement officer and possession of a weapon on school property. He was transported to the Volusia County Branch Jail on a no-bond status.
Editor's Note: McNeal was convicted in November on amended charges and sentenced to five years in prison.