Brockton school employee found with gun during ‘inappropriate behavior’ in parking lot, police say

Police say they found a Brockton school employee engaged in “inappropriate behavior” with a woman in a school parking lot Wednesday evening, and later discovered he was carrying a gun.

Bryce Hatch, 60, pleaded not guilty at his arraignment in Brockton District Court on Thursday to a charge of carrying a dangerous weapon on school grounds, according to court documents. A judge released him on personal recognizance. His pretrial date is set for Feb. 20. 

Court documents did not list an attorney for Hatch.

According to a police report, an officer found a suspicious vehicle parked in a lot on the Raymond Elementary School property at around 9:13 p.m. 

The officer activated his cruiser lights and found two people in the car, a man and a woman, who were ducking down in their seats. The officer said it appeared the two were engaging in a sexual act. 

Hatch was wearing a grey Brockton Public Schools facilities staff shirt. He told police he worked at the school. 

Hatch told the policeman that he had a “license to carry” without being asked, according to the report. The officer reported finding a firearm in his pocket. 

Police let the woman go, then took Hatch into custody and transported him to the Brockton Police Department. 

In a letter to parents on Thursday, Raymond School Principal Leah McKetty said the school placed Hatch on leave and that he has not returned to the building. 

McKetty wrote that they cannot say for certain if he brought the firearm into the school building. 

While Hatch had a license to carry a gun, state law prohibits firearms on school property. 

“This individual’s choice to allegedly bring a firearm onto school grounds, whether inside the building or not, is a stunning violation of our collective trust and something we take extremely seriously,” McKetty wrote. 

The School Police and the Brockton Public Schools are investigating the matter. Also, the district is conducting criminal background checks on all employees. 

Beth Treffeisen is a general assignment reporter for Boston.com, focusing on local news, crime, and business in the New England region.