Blue Herron Middle School: Case Study

On 10/28/14 at about 1800 hrs. I was called by Sgt Williams and told that the Patrick Kane the acting Principal at Blue Herron Middle School had called looking for a phone number for me. I was off duty, but return the call.

At about 1805 hrs. I spoke with Kane and was told that on Saturday the 25th, 2014 Anna Brown told her mental health counselor Wayne Shaffer who was also staff at the Proctor House that weekend that her boyfriend Caleb Bell and told her that he wanted to kill his mother, and bomb the staff at the Frontier House. These statements were made during the evening hours and part of an active conversation between Wayne and Anna. I told Kane that I would be at the school at 0730 hrs. and will staff a meeting with the High School’s

Principal and Vice Principal.

On 10/27/2014 at about 0730 hrs.

I meet with school staff. I was told of an incident about 2 years ago, 2012-2013 school year where Caleb had brought a knife to school. While in the Library with his adult education assistant, Amy Recker a kitchen knife that was approximately 8 inches long was found in his boot. Caleb was emergency expelled for this incident and since then has been a student of the Frontier House, a school administrated by Jefferson County Mental Health. I was told that he has an individual education plan (IEP) and that his Foster mother has told the school that he has Aspergers disorder. Asperger disorder has been reclassified as autism spectrum disorder (ASD.)

Caleb was a student at the Port Townsend High School during the 2012-2013 school year, for approximately 55 days (Sept/Oct 2012.) I reviewed his school records and found that there were 8 referrals during this time frame with several referrals for incidents involving knifes and minor assaults. He was ultimately suspended October 31st, for the kitchen knife that was found in his boot.

At 0915 hrs. I stopped at the Proctor House to see if there was a report regarding the conversation between Wayne and Anna. There was no information in the log book, but I was told that Wayne was working on his report, and should be at The Frontier House

School.

At about 1145 hrs. I stopped at the Court house to speak with Juvenile Services and the Juvenile Prosecutor. I was told that Caleb was not on probation or any Court related restrictions. I was told that the recent case where he was harboring a runaway (Anna) was not being pursued. I was told by both departments that there are concerns with Caleb’s behavior, and his mental state.

At about 1230 hrs. (Advised Jeff Com at 1330 hrs.) I went to the Frontier House School and spoke with the Director Robin Runyan and counselor Wayne Shaffer. Wayne told me that he was working on his statement. I told him in the future, when he gets a report regarding threats he needs to call 911 immediately. Wayne said that this experience is new to him and he has made the necessary adjustments.

Both Robin and Wayne expressed concerns about Caleb and said he is “regressing.” They told me that he attends school 3 days a week. He arrives at school and eats breakfast then sleeps until lunch, then sleeps until the end of the school day. Robin stated that ““CJ” (Caleb) has reactive attachment disorder and that it is not unusual for him to communicate with threats or make statements that contain violent content. CJ has poor impulse control and does not understand society rules. For example, he still does not understand why he was expelled from public high school for bringing a knife to school. He describes that incident as his “failure” to read a sign. CJ’s situation is concerning in that he seems to be regressing of late. His current level of engagement in Frontier House can be described as minimal at best. This is a notable decline from his level of involvement from a few weeks ago.” She speculate that CJ is concerned about his relationship with his girlfriend, Anna, and the fact that she will soon be 18 years old and legality of their continued relationship. See attached statement.

Wayne said that during conversations on October 25-26, 2014, Anna told him in a non-reporting way but in a oh by the way Caleb said that he was going to kill his mother and bomb the Frontier House School and kill the staff. The reason for wanting to kill his mom is so that Anna will have a place to live when she turns 18. His reason for wanting to blow up the school and kill staff is because he hates them. “She (Anna) relayed the information with a smirk and a giggle while shrugging her shoulder…as though it was no big deal. She also feels that CJ is not a threat to anyone.” She said his only reason he won’t kill anyone is because his does not want to go to jail. See attached statement.

I spoke with Anna. I asked if I could recorded our conversation. Anna said she would not speak with me if I were to record our conversation.

I asked Anna about her conversation with Wayne last weekend. She told me that they were talking and during their conversation she mentioned a conversation that she had with Caleb. She said that she and Caleb were taking about her birthday and expressed their concern that when she turned 18 they would no longer be able to see each other. I told her that the age of consent in this state is 16, and being that Caleb is 16 years of age there was no legal issue concern if they continued their relationship. Anna appeared to be relieved by this information.

Anna continued that during their conversation Caleb said that if she needed a place to live he would we could kill his mother. She said that they continued on with their conversation on other topics. I asked her did she think that Caleb was going to kill his mother. Anna said that she wasn’t, because of how he made the statement. She explained that when Caleb is really mad or upset, his voice is lower/deeper, he speak very slowly and clearly. She said that this time it was more matter of fact. I asked her about the Frontier School and wanting to kill staff and blow up the school. She said in another conversation Caleb told her how much he hates going to school and how much he hates school staff. He told her that he wanted to blow the school up and kill the staff. I asked her did she think he would harm staff or damage the school. She told me she knows Caleb would do anything thing like that, “he says stuff all the time when he is mad or upset about something.” She again clarified that he did not say it in his mad voice; lower, deeper, slower and clear, it was in a casual matter of fact way. She said the conversation continued on to other thing unrelated to his school or the staff.

I asked Anna if she would write a statement or would she allow me to write it for her. Anna said that she will not write a statement and that I could write down what she said during the conversation but she would not sign it.

Prior to leaving Anna told me that Caleb wouldn’t kill anyone, he just says a lot of things and never does anything, it was just how he talks. She said that he told her he wouldn’t kill anyone because he did not want to go to jail. Anna continued and said that she did believe that he may kill someone but it wouldn’t be until he was 21. I asked her to explain, but she could elaborate further.

I asked Anna when did she had these conversations with Caleb. She said she didn’t remember but it was more than 2 weeks ago but within the last 30 days. I asked her did she feel safe when she was with Caleb. Anna said that Caleb would never hurt her, they needed each other and were good for each other. She said that she would never leave him unless he got in the way of goal of working with animals. I told her that violence was never oaky in a relationship and if she needed help to ask for it. She told me that she goes to the Dove House, however I later found out that was only because it was part of her condition of release. I thought it was odd that she was very comfortable speaking with me, never expressed any concerned for her safety, but never said that she love Caleb, or Caleb loves her.

I re-contacted Robin and told her about my conversation with Anna. Robin called Joan Best, Caleb’s foster mother, and told her of the threat against her. After the conversation Robin said that Joan is not concerned about any threat against her safety and if the notification came from Anna or Anna’s mother if reconfirmed that she was not worried about her safety.

At about 1341 hrs. I went to Caleb’s house in Towne Point and spoke with his mother Joan Best and him. Neither would allow me to record the conversation. Joan told me immediately that she was not in fear for her life or safety by any comment that Caleb may have said that is being taken out of context. She explained that her son as she does, has asperger disorder and that what he may have said isn’t actually how he feels or will act, but it is how he expresses himself, and sometimes it makes other uncomfortable.

I asked Caleb to tell me about the threats regarding his mother and the school. He said, as he was pointing at his head, be specific. I asked him why he threatened to kill his mother. He said he didn’t. He said that he was talking with Anna and they were talking about what was going to happen when she turns 18, and how it would affect their relationship and where she would live. He said that he made the statement, “we could kill my mother (tilted his head towards his mother) then you could live here.” He said that he did not mean anything by the statement, Best interjected that she wasn’t concerned by the statement. I said tell me about the threat to bomb and kill the staff at his school. He said he never threated to bomb the school, he stated what he said was “Al Qaeda is bombing the wrong targets, it should be his school, and they should kill his teacher…because I hate them.” He said he hates his school and they are wasting his time and aren’t teaching him anything. He said that his time is being wasted and that is why he sleeps and easts at the school, then goes home. He said that all he wants to do is make money on “YouTube, because he knows a guy that made so much money making videos, and used his money to by computer equipment. He said the guy doesn’t even live in this country. He said that is why his mother bought him an Alienware computer. Best said that she ordered it from Dell computers and it is being shipped to the home. She said that he needs to follow his dreams, and if he fails he will deal with those failure. I asked them both if they were willing to write statements, both saying they would not.

On 10/29/14 at about 0900 hrs. I spoke with Amy Recker a past teaching assistant of Caleb when he was at Port Townsend High School in 2013. She told me that Caleb has stated the he carries knifes for his protection and when he perceives a threat he has stated he will use it for protection. She said that besides having the knife at school in October 2013, her concerns are what Caleb may perceives to be a threat. She believes that he may use a knife or other weapon when no actual threat is occurring, but he is perceiving a threat.

At about 0945 hrs. I spoke with Robin and told her that I would be routing the report to the County Prosecutor for review. I told her that Caleb has minimized threats. I told her that she needs to tell her staff of the threats.