Cop Shop
Local youth helps Bishop Police foil possible CO school shooting
On the afternoon of August 27, a 14 year old male resident of Bishop contacted the Police Department regarding information he had received about a possible planned school shooting.
The young man was playing an online game through his X-Box. Players on the game can participate from various locations and have the ability to text or chat with each other during the game. While playing the game, an unidentified juvenile whose location was unknown sent messages to the local youth, indicating that he was distraught over a breakup with his girlfriend.
He went on to say that he was planning to take his father’s 9mm gun to school the next day and target his ex-girlfriend, her new boyfriend, and then commit suicide. The young Bishop resident immediately contacted the Police.
Upon learning of the messages and their content, Bishop Police Officer Jared Waasdorp conducted further investigation and interview with the Bishop youth. Officer Waasdorp was able to ascertain that the subject making the threats possibly lived somewhere in Colorado.
Officer Waasdorp contacted authorities in Colorado, including investigators from the Colorado Cyber Crimes Task Force. Officer Waasdorp also contacted Microsoft Corporation and initiated the necessary process to obtain any infromation that might reveal the identity and location of the subject making the threats.
Utilizing the expertise and assistance of the Colorado Cyber Crimes Task Force in conjunction with the information provided from Microsoft, Officer Waasdorp was able to determine the subject’s identity and location.
Local authorities in Colorado were notified and made contact with a 14 year old male boy who admitted to making the threats. Colorado authorities also determined that the boy’s father did own a 9mm weapon.
The boy was detained for a Mental Health Evaluation and the investigation is continuing. Due to the evolving nature of the investigation, further details are being withheld to protect the integrity of the case and the identities of other involved parties. As information becomes available, the Bishop Police Department will continue to provide updates as appropriate.
The Bishop Police Department wanted to release the information available at this time to highlight the importance and value of the actions of this local young man. His recognition of the circumstances and willingness to alert authorities likely averted a tragedy and saved lives. Bishop PD hopes that his actions will serve as an example to others and encourage them to come forward whenever they have information that helps the Police Department protect the public and prevent crimes from happening.
Mono SAR rescues 77-year-old
On the afternoon of Tuesday, August 26, at approximately 2:45 p.m., Mono County Sheriff’s Dispatch received a call regarding a hiker on the Duck Pass Trail in need of assistance.
A 77-year-old woman from San Diego was hiking to the top of Duck Pass with her hiking club. On the return climb out of Barney Lake Basin, she suddenly became quite ill and was unable to continue. The Mono County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue (SAR) Team was called to aid the hiker on the Duck Pass Trail.
Thirteen search and rescue members responded to the Coldwater trailhead. A hasty team of two quickly departed to locate and assess the hiker. They were closely followed by three other teams with gear and a wheeled litter. A mule and packer from the Mammoth Lakes Pack Outfit assisted the SAR team in quickly transporting the wheeled litter to the hiker’s location.
The hiker was evacuated approximately three miles via wheeled litter to the trailhead, where she was met by Mono County Paramedics and transported via ambulance to Mammoth Hospital for further treatment.
