12/28/09

Jefferson County District Court

Staff received a phone call from a man who wanted to report death threats made against the judge by another man. Informant said that he was extremely worried about the judge’s safety due to the mental health of the man who had made the threats. The man had said he would like to “kill that g--d--- judge and all of them other g--d--- people up there.” Court security was contacted and physically responded and began investigating.

Threat

YR 2009

Summary:

76 Incidents

33 Threats

Total=109

12/16/09

Reported 12/17/09

Island County District Court

A threat was made in person by a defendant present for arraignment against the victim of that charge, saying “I could come back and blow your head off” or something to that effect. Overhearing the threat were representatives from CADA present to cover the domestic violence calendar. A report was made after the fact to the Oak Harbor PD.

Threat

 

12/9/09

Reported:

12/17/09

Island County District Court

When cleaning, the custodian found a box of live ammunition in the garage adjacent to the courthouse. Oak Harbor PD was contacted and responded and the courtroom was emptied and all those present were searched. OHPD took the ammunition with them, which they reported as being 35 rounds of ammunition for a large caliber hand gun.

Incident

 

Incident:

11/20/09

Reported:

12/09/09

King County Superior Court

Office of Interpreter Services received a phone call stating “there’s a bomb in the courthouse.” No other information was given. SPD responded and retrieved the phone number from which the call was made. The KCSO Court Protection Unit conducted visual sweeps of all court facilities and instructed court staff in all locations to contact them if they noticed anything out of the ordinary in their work areas. There were no evacuations because no specific court facility was identified in the bomb threat.

Threat

 

Incident:

12/04/09

Reported:

12/07/09

 

Spokane County Superior Court

Man made veiled threats by phone message on the phone of JA for a judge. His message implied retaliation for unclear, unspecified actions supposedly committed by one or more courts, including U.S. District Court, Superior Court and others. He referred to loss of “concealed weapons permits” as a result of court action, and that this will have “dollar signs” impact on the court. He also mentioned ADA and Department of Justice. Security chief for Spokane County was notified. He indicated that this person has called and left messages on other phones, specifically another judge’s JA, and others in the county.

Threat

 

Incident:

11/30/09

 

Reported:

12/03/09

Chelan Co. Law & Justice Center

Security officer received a complaint about an unknown adult male wearing a Barack Obama rubber mask on the public elevator at the L&J Building. Security contacted the individual and made him hand over the rubber mask. The officer reports that the subject (who was with an unidentified female) exhibited aggressive behavior and appeared to be either under the influence of an unknown substance, or suffering from a mental illness. There was a lengthy discussion with the subject, who was told he could retrieve his mask when he was ready to exit the building. When he came back to get his mask, he appeared more agitated and continued to be aggressive, telling the officer to “f--- off.” He was told to leave and that he could get his mask back the following day. The subject got onto the elevator with the unidentified female and did not return.

Incident

 

Reported:

12/03/09

Grant County District Court

Multiple threatening faxes have been sent to the court over a period of several nights. The threats are directed to the judges, prosecutor and commissioners. References KKK, skin heads, etc. Security was contacted and a phone was installed for tracking purposes. A warrant is being issued for the defendant for cyber stalking.

Threat

 

Reported:

12/02/09

Grant County District Court

Four defendants were in the hallway outside the courtroom and were verbally threatening each other, which resulted in physical violence – possibly gang related. One of the defendants was injured in the fight and subsequently received stitches. Staff called 911 and officers responded to the scene.

Incident

 

Pierce County Superior Court

Reference to 11/03/09 Incident. As a result of conduct displayed by litigant on 11/03/09, a security escort was provided at the 11/19/09 follow-up hearing.

Incident

 

11/19/09

Redmond District Court

Two letters that threatened a judge and her family were received. One letter stated that a PI had been hired to follow the judge’s family. The second letter states “dead” “very soon” “we will know when they are dead.” The Redmond Police Department was notified and responded. They wrote an incident report. Courthouse security also was made aware of the letters.

Threat

 

Incident:

11/05/09

Reported:

11/16/09

King County Courthouse

Two juvenile females started yelling and pushing one another in the lobby of the Youth Services Center. A citizen grabbed one of the combatants and a KCSO restrained the second combatant. The office detained both females, removed them from the lobby and issued trespass warning letters. Seattle Police responded to the call, conducted a preliminary investigation and did not arrest either female.

Incident

 

Incident:

11/02/09

Reported:

11/16/09

King County Courthouse

A threat was made against a CASA worker by the father on the case to which the CASA worker had been assigned. The father has multiple convictions including assault, witness tampering, felony violation of protections orders, etc. The threat was made via a telephone voice mail message and was subsequently saved and transcribed for use as evidence as part of a law enforcement investigation. The message reportedly said that if he (the father) had to deal with the CASA employee, he would not, and that the CASA employee should not show up at his visit because he did not want to be responsible for assault or murder.

Threat

 

Incident:

10/30/09

Reported:

11/16/09

King County Courthouse

KCSO Marshals were asked to stand by in a courtroom in which a defendant was to be sentenced for manslaughter. Prior to sentencing by the judge, the family of the victim was allowed to speak before the court. While the victim’s brother was speaking before the court, he became increasingly distraught and lunged suddenly at the defendant as if to tackle him. The marshals successfully restrained him before he was able to reach the defendant, and they escorted him out of the courtroom. They handcuffed him and took him to the KCSO office. He was subsequently released to his family after being given a strong warning regarding his actions and directing him not to attempt any further type of retribution. Supervising sergeant consulted with the prosecutor and defense attorneys in the case and they felt charges against the individual should not be filed against him for his actions.

Incident

 

Incident:

10/30/09

 

Reported:

11/16/09

King County Courthouse

Department of Adult and Juvenile Detention had advised KCSO Court Protection Unit that a volatile individual would likely be coming to the DAJD office in the courthouse to discuss an ongoing internal complaint filed against that department. This individual has a history of assaulting officers and was listed in WACIC/NCIC with an “officer safety caution”. Marshal stood by DAJD office once the individual arrived. After approximately 5-10 minutes of the individual’s arrival, a uniformed DAJD officer physically removed the individual from the office and escorted him from the building. While being escorted, the marshal witnessed the individual using profanity toward the DAJD staff. The DAJD sergeant advised the individual that he had no further business with them today. A few minutes later, the individual attempted to enter the courthouse via a different entrance but was stopped by marshals stationed there. When he refused to leave, the marshal physically escorted him from the building and advised him that he would be arrested for trespassing if he returned to the courthouse that day. The individual continued to shout profanities at the officers from outside the building, and spit on the revolving door into the courthouse while looking directly at the officers at the screening station.

Incident

 

Incident:

10/21/09

Reported:

11/16/09

King County Courthouse

An email sent to five judges/staff in Superior Court was forwarded to KCSO for further investigation. The email did not contain a direct threat, nor did it mention specific judge or staff by name. The content of the email contains information about an alleged victim who was tortured as a child and then punished by serial dismemberment among other things.

Incident

 

Incident:

10/21/09

Reported:

11/16/09

King County Courthouse

Student at Alder School attempted to enter court facility lobby from school, which is located in basement of facility. Marshals informed him twice to return to the school area, at which point student continued to lobby and began vocalizing obscenities at the marshals. Marshals made determination to trespass student from the court building, and attempted to get him to leave on his own. Student became hostile, yelling further obscenities at the marshals, refusing to leave. Two marshals then attempted to physically escort him out of the building, at which point the student struck one of the marshals with a closed fist to his lower abdomen. Struggle continued and marshals eventually were able to handcuff him, advising him of their intent to search him. When he continued to resist, the marshals took the student to the floor, where he was successfully searched. Student was booked into YSC detention.

Incident

 

Incident:

10/13/09

Reported:

11/16/09

King County Courthouse

Weapons screener identified a firearm inside a briefcase as it passed through the x-ray machine at the courthouse entrance. The marshal verified the find (Glock 27) and identified the owner of the bag, who indicated she was at the courthouse to report for jury duty. It was verified that she had a concealed weapons permit. She was advised of the fact that weapons are not permitted in the courthouse and that she would need to surrender her weapon to the marshals and could retrieve it later upon exiting the courthouse. She was advised of the process to obtain her weapon at the end of the day.

Incident

 

Incident:

9/17/09

Reported:

11/16/09

King County Courthouse

Bailiff contacted KCSO regarding a suspicious voicemail that had been left on the court’s phone. Caller appeared to have confused a Superior Court judge’s name with that of a Municipal Court judge who was the subject of the call. The caller implied that the judge should remove himself from a pending case as he was racially biased. No direct threats were made.

Incident

 

Incident:

9/17/09

Reported:

11/16/09

King County Courthouse

Seattle Police Department reported a desk officer at the West Precinct had received a phone call regarding a potential bomb threat to the courthouse. Caller refused to identify herself, but indicated that her neighbor had told her that her boyfriend (also neighbor) had said he was upset with a prior sentencing imposed by a judge (unspecified) and that they were going to detonate a bomb “today between 9:15 and 9:20 a.m. at the downtown courthouse”.

Threat

 

Incident:

09/02/09

Reported:

11/16/09

King County Courthouse

Bailiff reported that a defendant had been remanded to jail by the judge, but after being told to stay he turned and left the courtroom. Bailiff provided full description to marshals who then broadcasted the description via radio. Suspect was apprehended on first floor of building but gave false name to deputies. Bailiff was brought to the scene and positively identified suspect as the defendant who had fled the courtroom. Defendant was then taken into custody by marshals and turned over to custody of KC Jail.

Incident

 

Incident:

8/14/09

 

Reported:

11/16/09

King County Courthouse

Marshal was asked by Superior Court to stand by in Chief Criminal Courtroom to observe gang-related hearing. During the hearing, one of the spectators began to make loud comments about the proceeding. After several comments, the marshal cautioned all spectators to be quiet. When the individual resumed making comments, a marshal advised her to leave the courtroom, and directed her toward the door. She moved toward the door, continuing to make comments, and then turned to the deputies, shouted obscenities and said she didn’t need to do what they asked her to do. The marshal attempted to physically assist her to leave the courtroom, advising her that she was not under arrest but would be issued a formal written trespass warning and that she would need to leave the building. She continued to resist and shout obscenities as the deputy escorted her to the Sheriff’s office via the jail elevator. At the KCSO, she was given a trespass warning letter. She then calmed down and apologized to the deputies, saying that she was upset that her son was in custody. The marshals spoke with the woman about appropriate courtroom behavior and determined she had gained an understanding, so they crossed out the “arrest warning” part of the Trespass Warning.   She was then released with a signed copy of the letter.

Incident

 

Incident:

8/14/09

Reported:

11/16/09

King County Courthouse

Marshal was dispatched to KC District Court Clerk’s Office to take a report/investigate a threatening letter received via US Mail. The letter contains threatening statements that sender will “bomb and shoot up the District Court”. Criminal history was run on sender and it was noted that he had been arrested as stated in his letter.

Threat

 

10/13/09

Milton Municipal Court

Defendant became irate after Milton Police Officer approached her outside of the courtroom. Defendant came back into the courtroom screaming and moving towards the bench. Officer got between the defendant and staff person, who told her to calm down and stop screaming. She continued to yell profanities and take an aggressive stance. She also threatened to kill the prosecutor. Staff told her that, if she didn’t leave the courtroom, she would be found in contempt of court. She failed to comply. The officer then told her she was going to be arrested for obstructing. She refused to comply with the officer’s commands and ultimately was tasered two times. This had no impact on her whatsoever. She then came at the officer. Staff began to evacuate the courtroom. The officer and defendant were fighting. The courtroom was full of people and they were scrambling to get out of the way and outside the building. The evacuation out the back door had to be rerouted out the side door because the fight moved towards the people exiting out the back door. Everyone was evacuated without injury. It took four officers to subdue the defendant. She was ultimately charged with Assault 2, Harassment and Resisting Arrest.

Incident

 

11/03/09

Pierce Co. Superior Court

A litigant and his attorney had just exited the courtroom after a trial decision had been rendered. The mother and their 5-yr.-old son were by the elevators. She started yelling at the litigant in front of the child. The litigant and his attorney went back into the courtroom and asked the staff to contact security for an escort.

Incident