The Rowan County Sheriff’s Office has filed charges against a 14-year-old who they say brought two butcher knives to West Rowan Middle School while wearing a scary Halloween clown mask.

School Resource Officer Danny Lindley confronted the eighth-grader, who was inside the school’s cafeteria wearing the rubber mask and displaying a 12-inch knife. The deputy said he had to strike the student with his baton in order to get him to release the knife. The incident occurred Nov. 4.

Sheriff’s officials have said students who were in the cafeteria were secured behind closed doors by cafeteria and school staff.

The student was charged with possession of a weapon on a school campus or property, going armed to the terror of the public, assault with a deadly weapon and communicating threats.

Juvenile services will process the charges, and the teen will receive a court date. The case will be heard before a juvenile court judge.

The student received a mental health evaluation based on some statements he made to school staff and the officer, officials said.