IMAGES: Student Ran Through Cafeteria With Clown Mask And Butcher Knife

UPDATE:  Police have released images of the clown mask and knives a student used while running through a local middle school cafeteria.

ROWAN COUNTY, N.C. — Police say a 14-year-old student has been arrested after he ran through a school cafeteria wearing a clown mask and waving a butcher knife in the air.  

Investigators say the incident happened early Tuesday morning at West Rowan Middle School.  The school’s Student Resource Officer says he heard kids screaming and running from the cafeteria just before 8 a.m.  

The officer confronted the student who was wearing a rubber clown mask that fully covered his head and brandishing a 12" butcher knife.  

The officer repeatedly told the student to drop the knife.  However, the student continued to wave the knife in the air.  The officer struck the student’s arm several times with his baton, causing the student to drop the weapon.  

The student was immediately taken into custody.  Police also found a second knife inside the student’s backpack.  

Police say the student needed to be evaluated by mental health personnel due to some of the statements he made to the officer and school staff.  The student also had to get medical attention for the injury he received when he was hit with the officer’s baton.  

No other students or staff were injured in the incident.