ARLINGTON — A man dressed only in his underwear tried to break into Haller Middle School and some neighboring houses before being taken into custody after a brief scuffle March 12.

Arlington police received multiple 911 calls reporting that a nearly naked man had attempted to enter homes in the area around the campus.

He then climbed the fence around to the middle school and gained entry into the south side of the school at around 10:30 a.m., Arlington police spokeswoman Kristin Banfield said.

The school’s principal and janitor were able to detain the man in a hallway between the gym and kitchen until police arrived, Banfield said. It appeared the man was under the influence of drugs or alcohol, she added.

The middle school was placed in lockdown for about 20 minutes.

The man apparently had been at Cascade Valley Hospital before the incident. He was taken back to the hospital for treatment of minor injuries and was expected to be booked into jail.

An Arlington police officer also received minor injuries. He, too, was treated at the hospital.