PSYCHOS GONE WILD: THREATS OF SHOOTINGS IN SCHOOLS, FIGHTS AT BASKETBALL GAMES, KNIVES ON SCHOOL BUS; GUNPLAY AT GREAT MILLS HIGH SCHOOL

CULPEPER TEEN ARRESTED FOR THREATENING SCHOOL SHOOTING; PARENTS OF ST. MARY’S KIDDIE CRIMINAL STUCK WITH THEIR DANGEROUSLY CRAZY KID

ARREST MADE FOR BRINGING A GUN INTO GREAT MILLS HIGH SCHOOL…AGAIN

Juvenile Arrested and Charged as an Adult

GREAT MILLS, MD. – In the early morning hours of Saturday, January 20, 2024, the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Department reports that its Criminal Intelligence and Vice Narcotics Units, in collaboration with personnel from the Criminal Investigations Division and the Patrol Division, conducted a search and seizure warrant service on a residence in the 46000 block of Radford Lane, Lexington Park, MD, for purposes of locating a juvenile suspect wanted in connection with a recent incident at Great Mills High School. Detectives arrested the juvenile and recovered a handgun.

The search warrant was issued following an investigation initiated by St. Mary’s County Public Schools’ Safety and Security staff on Wednesday, January 17, 2024, when school staff observed and approached four unauthorized individuals walking the hallways. After being confronted by GMHS staff, the four suspects fled. St. Mary’s County Public Schools administrators and Safety and Security staff reported the trespassing incident to the School Resource Officer.

Following interviews and a review of video surveillance, St. Mary’s Sheriff’s Department Detectives were able to identify the subjects. Additional investigation led to the discovery of photographs posted on a social media platform by the juvenile and depicted the involved individuals posing in various locations in the school; one photo showed the suspect potentially holding a handgun.

Convict Sheriff Steve Hall said, “I applaud the professional response by school safety and security staff and the Sheriff’s Office members who collaborated on this case. This incident is a stark reminder of the challenges we are facing with our youth. The ease with which children, barely old enough to obtain a driver’s license, can get and use weapons is simply unacceptable.”

The juvenile was transported to the St. Mary’s County Jail to be charged as an adult with weapons-related offenses.

The attorney for the Wiley family, which has filed suit against St. Mary’s County Public Schools, said in a statement that they filed the lawsuit because “our most precious resources — our children — should be able to go to school every day with parents knowing they will return home safe.”

“Schools continue to fail to institute safety measures to protect our most innocent vulnerable population for which they are responsible for during school hours,” a statement from attorney Lauren Geisser said. “In this matter, there were warning signs the school chose to ignore, and the family seeks to hold the school responsible for this failure on behalf of their daughter.”

Deputies Report Threats of Potential Gun Violence
at Spring Ridge Middle School

LEONARDTOWN, MD (February 16, 2024) – According to the St. Mary’s Sheriff’s Department Public Information Officer, on Thursday, February 15, 2024, Deputies from the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Department were called to investigate reports of a threat against Spring Ridge Middle School. 

Deputies were alerted to a social media post circulating among Spring Ridge Middle School students warning them not to “go to school tomorrow” and indicating a student would be bringing a gun to the school on Friday, February 16, 2024. Deputies learned a Spring Ridge Middle School student had been asking other students how to obtain a gun, prompting the social media post.

Deputies reportedly identified the sicko student, contacted the parent of the student, and conducted a search of the residence and the student’s personal items; no gun was found.

The press report issued declared: “All students involved will be disciplined in accordance with the St. Mary’s County Public School’s Code of Conduct”.

The investigation is ongoing by Spring Ridge Middle School Resource Officer Corporal Chad Hartzell at Chad.Hartzell@stmaryscountymd.gov.

Threats by badass teen in Culpeper led to incarceration in juvie joint

CULPEPER, VA. On February 14, 2024, at approximately 7:57 AM, the Culpeper County E-911 Center received a 911 phone call. When the dispatcher answered the phone, the caller disconnected. In accordance with their policy, the dispatcher first attempted to call back and then sent a text message to the phone number.

The caller responded to the text message with profanity-laced threats to commit a school shooting and to shoot at law enforcement. Then the caller called back into the E-911 Center and verbally repeated the same statements. The E-911 Center was able to determine that the caller was currently in the area of private school Keys Academy.

Keys Academy is a coeducational day school licensed by the Virginia Department of Education to serve students grades K-12 who have special needs classifications of Emotional Disability (ED), Autism, Other Health Impairment (OHI), and/or Specific Learning Disability (SLD).

KEYS Academy was acquired by Health Connect America in 2014. KEYS Academy schools are private, day, coeducational special education schools licensed by the Commonwealth of Virginia to serve special education students in grades K-12 who have classifications of Emotional Disability(ED), Autism, Other Health Impairment (OHI), and/or Specific Learning Disability (SLD). KEYS Academy is committed to providing a quality education to students within their home community and preparing students, when possible and appropriate, to return successfully to their home schools.

Due to the nature of the threats being made while students were arriving at the school, Culpeper Police Department officers and Culpeper County Sheriff’s Office deputies quickly responded to the area. Prior to law enforcement’s arrival, the caller was positively identified as a juvenile teen male known to law enforcement and Keys Academy staff.

When officers and deputies arrived at the school, the juvenile was located and detained without incident. It was determined that the juvenile did not possess any weapons and did not pose an immediate credible threat to public safety.

The juvenile was transported to the Culpeper Police Department, where he was interviewed by detectives. In accordance with Virginia law, his legal guardians were notified, and they cooperated fully with the investigation. Based on the investigation, the Culpeper Police Department has charged the juvenile with felony Threats of Death or Bodily Injury to Persons on School Property and misdemeanor Falsely Summoning Law Enforcement.

The juvenile was transported to the Blue Ridge Juvenile Detention Center, where he was held without bond. Per Virginia law, no additional identifying information about the juvenile will be released.

“We’re grateful that no one was injured or ever in harm’s way,” said Culpeper Police Chief Chris Settle. “Due to the immediate response from officers and deputies, they were able to quickly determine that there was no imminent risk to our children. I want to reaffirm to our community that we take any threat to our children and our schools seriously. Regardless of who they are, a person is responsible for the words that they use, especially when those words threaten the lives and safety of others.”

This is an active and ongoing investigation.

Anyone with additional information is asked to call MPO Det. M. Hays at 540-829-5508 or email tips@culpeperva.gov. Callers who wish to remain anonymous can submit tips by calling Culpeper Crime Solvers at 540-727-0300 or submitting a tip at culpeperpd.org.

Weapon recovered from a student on a school bus: 

Charles County Sheriff Troy Berry reports that on February 8, 2024, at 2:30 p.m., a school bus driver overheard a student from Robert D. Stethem Educational Center say they were going to injure a student who attends McDonough High School. The student was removed from the bus at which time a knife fell out of their clothing. Further, it was learned the student wanted to stab the other student due to an ongoing issue. The student’s parents were contacted, and the students were known to each other. This investigation is ongoing, and anyone with information is asked to contact Cpl. Virts at 301-609-3282 ext. 0504.

Vape pen containing suspected THC recovered from student at Milton Somers Middle School: On February 13, a student was found to be in possession of a vape pen containing suspected THC. The student was charged on a civil citation for possession of cannabis and faces disciplinary consequences from the Charles County Public Schools. Parents are urged to talk with their students about the dangers of inhaling and consuming substances that could contain dangerous components. Anyone with information is asked to call Cpl. Duley at 301-609-3282 ext. 0494.

SRO investigating a threat of violence at Piccowaxen Middle School: On January 31 at 11:30 a.m., a student at Piccowaxen Middle School made a threat of violence while in the cafeteria during lunchtime. The SRO initiated an investigation, contacted the student’s parents, and made a home visit. The student will not be charged criminally; however, they do face disciplinary consequences from the Charles County Public Schools. Anyone with information is asked to contact Cpl. Caballero at 301-609-3282 ext. 0573.

Suspected cannabis recovered from a student at Westlake High School: On February 2 a student at Westlake High School was found to have cannabis, a tobacco filler, and a small scale. The student was charged on a civil citation with possession of cannabis. The student also faces disciplinary consequences from the Charles County Public Schools. Parents are urged to talk with their students about the dangers of inhaling or consuming products that could potentially contain harmful, unknown elements. Anyone with information is asked to call PFC Joffe at 301-609-3282 ext. 0608. 

Stun gun and knife recovered from a student at Thomas Stone High School: On February 9, the school resource officer at Thomas Stone High School was made aware of a student who had a knife and stun gun which was recovered yesterday by school administrators. The items were on the student and were not displayed. The student faces disciplinary consequences from the Charles County Public Schools. The SRO has initiated an investigation, and the Charles County State’s Attorney’s Office will review the case. Anyone with information is asked to contact PFC Payne at 301-609-3282 ext. 0452.

School resource officer investigating assault involving multiple students: On February 8, 2024, at 8:50 a.m., six students at Davis Middle School were involved in an altercation. The students were separated, and the school resource officer initiated an investigation. There were no reported injuries. The students will face charges and school disciplinary consequences. Anyone with information is asked to contact PFC Miedzinski at 301-609-3282 ext. 0658.  

School resource officer investigating altercation at La Plata High School: On February 1 at 2:15 p.m., three students at La Plata High School were engaged in an altercation. The school resource officer and school administrators were able to separate the students. Two of the students were treated for what appeared to be minor injuries. All of the students were released to their parents. Anyone with information about this case is asked to contact M/Cpl. Burger at 301-609-3282 ext. 0475. The students face disciplinary consequences from the Charles County Public Schools. The investigation is ongoing.

Punks from St. Charles High School Fight Punks
at Great Mills High School

LEONARDTOWN, MD (January 18, 2024) – On Wednesday, January 17, 2024, while providing support for a basketball game at Great Mills High School, Deputies from the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office issued a call for officer assistance for an active disturbance involving a large crowd.

Deputies from the Patrol Division, the Special Operations Division, and the Criminal Investigations Division responded to the scene involving multiple juveniles and adults.  Preliminary reports indicate the incident involved multiple physical altercations between Great Mills High School and St. Charles High School fans and players. Deputies were able to quell the fights, and all individuals were cleared from the school and the area.