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P04078 - Paddack

11060 FONTAINE BLVD

2020-00009924

Reporting Officer ID:

Location:

Case Number:

COLORADO SPRINGS, CO 80925

Disposition Date: 08/28/2020

Disposition: Closed - Non Criminal

Occurred Thru: 08/27/2020 09:26

Occurred From: 08/27/2020 09:24

Incident Type: EPSO Other

Reported Date: 08/27/2020 12:06 Thursday

Case

No. Role Vehicle Type Year Make Model Color License Plate State

Date Code Type Make Model Description Tag No. Item No.

Arrest No. Name Address Date/Time Type Age

Vehicles

Property

Arrests

Offenses

No. Group/ORI Crime Code Statute Description Counts

1 CO0210000 90Z Informational Informational Reports 1

Subjects

Type No. Name Address Phone Race Sex DOB/Age

Family Member 1 ELLIOTT, CURTIS LEE, Jr

Family Member 2 WARREN, CAMELLA

Other 1 Haynes, Chad WIDEFIELD DISTRICT 3 (719)520-7100 White Male

COLORADO SPRINGS, CO

80903

Other 2 Southworth, Mike White Male

Other 3 Selke, Danielle White Female

Reporting Party 1 Lindaman, Keri White Female

Suspect 1

Suspect 2

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El Paso County Sheriff's Office

Summary

Print Date/Time:

Login ID:

09/03/2020 06:43 El Paso County Sheriff's Office

shrkirby ORI Number: CO021000

0

Case Number: 2020-00009924

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EPSO

09/03/20

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Narrative 20200827 1130 Paddack, Steven 04078

Body worn camera footage is available for this incident.

On August 27, 2020, I, Deputy Steven Paddack, #04078, with the El Paso County Sheriff's Office (EPSO), was assigned duties as the

School Resource Officer (SRO) for Widefield School District #3. This school district is located within the county of El Paso, in the state

of Colorado.

At approximately 1130 hours, I received a text message from Security Operations Manager Chad Haynes. Mr. Haynes was requesting

my presence at Grand Mountain School for a situation involving two seventh grade students. Grand Mountain School is located at

11060 Fontaine Boulevard, in the county of El Paso and the State of Colorado.

Mr. Haynes briefly explained the students appeared to be in possession of a handgun during an online art class. The Students were

later identified as , and .

When I responded to the school, I contacted Campus Supervisor Mike Southworth and Assistant Principal Keri Lindaman. Miss

Lindaman explained she had received an email from the school art teacher, Danielle Selke, about “waiving around a toy gun”

while in the online art class. When Miss Lindaman asked for further clarification, Miss Selke said she assumed it was a toy gun but

was not certain.

Miss Lindaman explained the incident is partially recorded. The online classroom records whoever is talking. The only part of the

video that recorded either of the kids with the gun, showed pointing it at the computer screen and pulling the trigger. Miss

Lindaman showed me the video which I used my body-worn camera to record it.

The video clearly shows the boys playing around and pointing what appears to be a black handgun at the computer screen

and pulling the trigger. On the video, is hear saying something to about a “pistol” and “grabbing his BB’s.”

Miss Lindaman also explained when she contacted parents, they were very upset with her for calling the police. She said

parents said, “I can’t believe you called the police and a young African-American male in todays society with everything going

on!” Miss Lindaman said parents said “the police would go kick down their door.”

After speaking with Miss Lindaman and viewing the video, I drove to home to contact him and his parents. The address is

.

Upon arriving at home, I contacted his father at the front door of the home. He was identified as Curtis Elliott,

. After introducing myself to Mr. Elliott and explaining the reason for my contact, Mr. Elliott led me inside the home where

and were. Mr. Elliott asked if he could put his wife on speaker phone as she was not currently home. I told him that

would be fine.

Before speaking to I advised Mr. Elliott and his wife that I understand their concern, however unless there was a life or death

emergent situation, I would not contact their child without them present and their permission first. I explained my main priority was

ensuring everyone was safe and there was not a real handgun the were playing with. Mr. Elliott and his wife assured me the gun

was a toy and said and Mr. Elliott said he now had it in his bedroom. I told him I would need to see it before I left so I could verify it is

a toy. Mr. Elliott agreed and said I could speak to

I expressed the seriousness of the situation to and explained how this could potentially lead to criminal charges in the future. I

reiterated the importance of being present and paying attention to his educational classes while doing the online learning curriculum.

seemed to grasp the seriousness of the situation and understood why the school was concerned about it.

During my conversation with was present. However, as I had not spoken to mother, I told I

would not be speaking directly to him or asking him any questions until I spoke to his mother.

Before leaving the home, Mr. Elliott showed me the toy gun. I verified it was in fact a toy. I advised Mr. Elliott and if this

behavior continued, could potentially face criminal charges for Interference with staff, faculty, or students of educational

institutions.

Due to mother being at work, I was unable to contact her at this time. I will follow up with her at a later date.

I have nothing further.

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EPSO

09/03/20

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Case Status: Closed

Supplement 20200828 0855 Paddack, Steven 04078

Body worn camera footage is available for this incident.

On August 28, 2020, I, Deputy Steven Paddack, #04078, with the El Paso County Sheriff's Office (EPSO), was assigned duties as the

School Resource Officer (SRO) for Widefield School District #3. This school district is located within the county of El Paso, in the state

of Colorado.

At approximately 0855 hours, I contacted Camella Warren, , via phone to set up a meeting with her and her

Miss Warren said she would be available at approximately 0930 hours at her home. Miss Warren lives at

.

I arrived at Miss Warren’s home at approximately 0940 hours. After introducing myself to Miss Warren, she escorted me inside her

home so I could speak to her and about the incident form the previous day.

Before speaking to I advised Miss Warren I waited to contact her because I wanted the school to talk to her first so she was

aware of the situation and not blindsided. I explained unless there was a life or death emergent situation, I would not contact her child

without her present. I explained my main priority was ensuring everyone was safe and the boys were not playing with a real handgun.

I explained I did verify it was a toy gun the had been playing with and that Mr. Elliott was in possession of it.

I expressed the seriousness of the situation to and explained how this could potentially lead to criminal charges in the future.

I reiterated the importance of being present and paying attention to his educational classes while doing the online learning curriculum.

seemed to grasp the seriousness of the situation and understood why the school was concerned about it.

I advised Miss Warren and if this behavior continued, could potentially face criminal charges for Interference with

staff, faculty, or students of educational institutions.

Miss Warren was extremely supportive of both me and the school administrative staff. She said she completely understood the

decision and would continue to impress upon the importance of making the right decisions.

I have nothing further.

Case Status: Closed

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EPSO

09/03/20