Principal With “Disdain for Law Enforcement” Blocks Emergency School Response in Ohio [WATCH]

An Ohio middle school principal is under investigation after attempting to block law enforcement officers from entering the school to respond to a bomb threat.

As reported by The New York Post, the incident occurred on March 17 at Ridgeview Middle School in Columbus and has drawn criticism from law enforcement officials and parents.

Body camera footage released from the incident shows Ridgeview Principal Natalie James and a school secretary confronting two Columbus police officers who were responding to a hoax bomb threat called in by a student.

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James insisted that the officers were not allowed to enter the building unless accompanied by the school’s security officer.

Ohio principal blocked cops from investigating bomb threat and has a ‘disdain for law enforcement,’ police union prez says https://t.co/thIVsEog2w pic.twitter.com/nEsYa6z8Ln

— New York Post (@nypost) April 13, 2025

Officer Keith Conner, one of the responding officers, is seen on the footage explaining that law enforcement has the authority to investigate school threats without requiring permission or accompaniment from school staff.

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Despite this, James maintained that school district policy restricted the officers’ access.

“What we’ve been told by the district is that the police can’t just go all over the building and do whatever you want to do. I don’t feel safe, I don’t feel comfortable.”

After nearly ten minutes of back-and-forth, the officers left without speaking to the student who had made the bomb threat.

Following the release of the footage, Brian Steel, President of the Capital City Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #9, told The Post that Principal James has a “disdain for law enforcement” and a documented pattern of interfering with police efforts on school property.

INSANE. Police bodycam footage shows Natalie James, principal of @ridgeviewproud in Ohio, refusing to allow police to enter the school to investigate a BOMB THREAT.

Natalie then claimed she felt “unsafe” with the police there after being confronted over her uncooperative… pic.twitter.com/P0MeKGvnXT

— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) April 7, 2025

“This has been going on for years with this one principal,” Steel said, referencing “upwards of a dozen” incidents involving James and officers from the Columbus Division of Police.

Steel also confirmed that he has received calls from parents upset over James’ actions. One parent, James Diorio, whose child attends Ridgeview Middle School, called the principal’s behavior “shameful.”

“She shows no respect to anyone,” Diorio said. “The principal at that school is pretty much a czar — she makes her own rules.”

In the footage, Officer Conner also expressed frustration with the encounter, saying:

“She is absolutely the most uncooperative person that I’ve ever dealt with in a school system.”

The City of Columbus Department of the Inspector General has opened an investigation into the incident but declined to comment while the review is ongoing.

Steel said he contacted Columbus City Schools Superintendent Dr. Angela Chapman for clarification on district policy regarding police access to school property. He stated that Chapman assured him she is reviewing the situation.

“What she did was illegal. You can’t make a policy that trumps state and local law.”

Columbus City Schools spokesman Mike DeFabbo confirmed that both Superintendent Chapman and Columbus Police Chief Elaine Bryant have viewed the footage and are planning a meeting with leadership teams from both organizations.

Steel added:

“I made it clear to the chief of police that any action to discipline [Officer Conner] will not be tolerated. Our officer did nothing wrong.”

The Columbus Division of Police declined to make the officers available for media interviews. Principal Natalie James did not respond to requests for comment.

Court records from Franklin County show that James was arrested in 2022 on domestic violence and assault charges. Those charges were later dismissed.

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