Teacher arrested for novel

[midwest]

the story is spreading on the web, a lot of forums. secondary articles at the dailycaller, dailykos, reason and the atlantic.still no mainstream press and no updates on the local press. i did find one more local article from the 27th that provides more in depth information about the agencies involved:

http://www.myeasternshoremd.com/news...ce57ca631.html

he was taken into whatever kind of custody by the dorchester county sheriff, but the investigation is by the wicomico county attorney. still no mention of any evidence except his books and his various names. you'd think if they had an actual threat or something, they would mention it.

eta: seriously, if they honestly thought they'd nailed the next crazy mass killer before he struck, wouldn't they be shouting it from the rooftops? i'm trying to keep in mind the possibility that he 'might' have done something bad, but so far the only thing that makes sense is thoughtcrime.

[midwest]

o boy, now we start getting information. there are allegations of harassment by McLaw and allegations of an improper relationship with a minor, plus a supposedly disturbing letter written to school admin (quite probably after the allegations). but he's not under arrest, he's under 'treatment'. some interesting quotes from the updated stories:

"It didn't start with the books and it didn't end with the books," State's Attorney for Wicomico County Matt Maciarello told The Times. "It's not even a factor in what law enforcement is doing now."

http://www.latimes.com/books/jacketc...902-story.html

Although McLaw’s books are “relevant,” Maciarello said, the writings were not a primary factor in the investigation.

http://www.stardem.com/easternshore/...c3513b977.html

the first article is a fairly brief, more mainstream news type article. the second article is much more informative. so now we have a new guessing game: are the allegations true, or did he react badly to false accusations, leading to an overreaction by authorities? if this is true, they should have said so from the beginning, now they've hurt their own credibility; ie, did they make this up to justify their actions? gonna have to keep watching this to see how it shakes out.

[jimmyb]

Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451 comes to mind....
We'd better wise up because the futuristic novels from our past are becoming reality...........

[abvp]

And no one heard from him again...

[abvp]

TOWSON, Md. (WJZ)– For the first time we are hearing from a Dorchester County school teacher placed on administrative leave and admitted to a mental health facility after police say he wrote a fictional book depicting a school shooting.
But that’s not all, a four-page letter with suicidal overtones raised the eyebrows of colleagues and members of the community but the teacher says they got it all wrong.
Rochelle Ritchie reports.

The teacher spoke by phone from Sheppard Pratt saying things are being taken out of context and he does not need mental treatment.
Patrick McLaw remains on leave from his teaching duties at Maces Lane Middle School in Campbridge. police say his fictional book “The Insurrectionist” gained national attention for its alarming depiction of a school shooting and a four-page letter sprinkled with suicidal undertones was sent to colleagues.

“They believe that perhaps he was reaching out for some help,” said Sheriff.
But McLaw says they have it all wrong.
“Law enforcement has not tried to contact me, they have been misinterpreting information,” McLaw said.
In a phone interview from Sheppard Pratt in Baltimore, where McLaw is being treated, he says he does not need a mental evaluation.
“They have been disseminating information incorrectly to the psychiatrist and medical professionals up here who have been making diagnosis that, you know, are invalid and irrelevant,” McLaw said.
Sheriff deputies say the investigation into McLaw didn’t stem solely from his writings.
“Within hours we received information of perhaps an inappropriate relationship involving a student so we had some concerns,” said Wicomico County Sheriff Mike Lewis.
The 23-year-old teacher is banned from school property. Investigators say inside of a shed, they recovered a handmade model of a school.
But McLaw says what has been taken as a threat is nothing more than a hobby.
“This entire situation is a complete, and total misunderstanding. And it is unfortunate that it has come to this,” McLaw said.

http://baltimore.cbslocal.com/2014/0...l-institution/

It's never been updated. May still be in custody somewhere.

[Lenno]

The story was covered by G. Beck some time ago if one has the correct name it should not be difficult to find out more from the school district if nowhere else. From what I recall the teacher was displaying bizarre behavior

[breezy]

The story was covered by G. Beck some time ago if one has the correct name it should not be difficult to find out more from the school district if nowhere else. From what I recall the teacher was displaying bizarre behavior

Like GB doesn't?.....

[grower]

He wrote another book, released this past September:

---

Hostage [Kindle Edition]

K. S. Voltaer (Author), Patrick McLaw (Author)
Be the first to review this item
Book Description

Publication Date: September 25, 2014
When we were children, we looked upon the world as children. We behaved as children. We loved as children. We placed our trust in others. As children. And when the time came for us to grow up, we were told to put childish things away. But for some of us, that didn't come so easily...

Situated in a scenic suburb in Northern Michigan, lies the Lyndon-Marshal Psychiatric Hospital—or "The Asylum" as the locals call it. And this institution has seen its fair share of clients, ranging from celebrities who were unable to handle the anxieties of fame, to the average American who was dealt a bad hand at life. Lyndon-Marshal is known as the best of the best. But even at its best, an unfortunate reality is that some patients return.

Casey Bellevue was not unlike the average patient who need psychotherapy. He wasn't diagnosed as psychotic or even severely depressed. There was nothing about him that made him exceptional. He wasn't on his fifth, ninth, or fourteenth visit—this was only his second. But for some unknown reason, he chose to return with a gun. He has no demands. No explanation. And no motive. A cocktail of mystery for Assistant Chief Khloe D'Nasia Johnsson as she attempts to deescalate what has become a very hostile situation. And as she uncovers the identities of the individuals he holds captive, she also learns their stories and realizes that the greatest challenges these young adults face may not be the gunman that stands before them.

It's a bizarre, chaotic, volatile situation. And to further complicate matters, Bellevue has vowed to transform this dire situation into a deadly one, and has given Chief Johnsson a non-negotiable deadline. One hour.

http://www.amazon.com/Hostage-K-S-Vo...9388392&sr=1-3

[naturallysweet]

My favorite teachers in school were always the ones who displayed bizarre behavior.

Does anyone know what constitutes bizarre behavior in their eyes? It's such a subjective term.

[abvp]

He wrote another book, released this past September:

---

Hostage [Kindle Edition]

K. S. Voltaer (Author), Patrick McLaw (Author)
Be the first to review this item
Book Description

Publication Date: September 25, 2014
When we were children, we looked upon the world as children. We behaved as children. We loved as children. We placed our trust in others. As children. And when the time came for us to grow up, we were told to put childish things away. But for some of us, that didn't come so easily...

Situated in a scenic suburb in Northern Michigan, lies the Lyndon-Marshal Psychiatric Hospital—or "The Asylum" as the locals call it. And this institution has seen its fair share of clients, ranging from celebrities who were unable to handle the anxieties of fame, to the average American who was dealt a bad hand at life. Lyndon-Marshal is known as the best of the best. But even at its best, an unfortunate reality is that some patients return.

Casey Bellevue was not unlike the average patient who need psychotherapy. He wasn't diagnosed as psychotic or even severely depressed. There was nothing about him that made him exceptional. He wasn't on his fifth, ninth, or fourteenth visit—this was only his second. But for some unknown reason, he chose to return with a gun. He has no demands. No explanation. And no motive. A cocktail of mystery for Assistant Chief Khloe D'Nasia Johnsson as she attempts to deescalate what has become a very hostile situation. And as she uncovers the identities of the individuals he holds captive, she also learns their stories and realizes that the greatest challenges these young adults face may not be the gunman that stands before them.

It's a bizarre, chaotic, volatile situation. And to further complicate matters, Bellevue has vowed to transform this dire situation into a deadly one, and has given Chief Johnsson a non-negotiable deadline. One hour.

http://www.amazon.com/Hostage-K-S-Vo...9388392&sr=1-3

unreal