By Bob Ray Sanders
bobray@star-telegram.com
It was a radio news flash on March 1 that first informed me Texas Woman's University in Denton was on lockdown because of a reported threat from a student.
That student, 30-year-old Christopher Gillette, had made some statements during his history class that caused someone to alert campus security officers who, in turn, notified the Denton police.
Gillette was considered a possible terrorist as police sought his whereabouts, eventually learning -- reportedly after calling his phone number -- that he had gone where he said he was headed: the Veterans Administration Hospital in Dallas.
An Army veteran, Gillette was a member of the 82nd Airborne Division and was part of a peacekeeping mission in Kosovo. He had suffered back and knee injuries in training exercises, said his attorney, David Sloane of Fort Worth.
The VA officials held Gillette that Tuesday morning until police got there and arrested him. He was charged with making a terroristic threat, and last week a Denton County grand jury indicted him on two counts. His bail, originally set at $250,000, was raised to $500,000.
In a time when anti-American and anti-government sentiment can manifest itself in senseless violence, it is understandable that some may have been concerned by Gillette's behavior on that day.
However, based on what I've learned about this man and his actions, campus officials overreacted and Denton County authorities are being overly punitive of a troubled person who has been begging for help.
Gillette, like many disturbed veterans, needs to be in a hospital maybe, but not in a county jail.
In an ironic twist of fate, Sloane said he had a speaking engagement at the University of North Texas a few weeks ago and Gillette was in the audience. He recalled that afterward Gillette followed him to the parking lot "and began describing his plight in not getting help from the Veterans Administration and asking me if I could help him."
Sloane "blew him off" that day and didn't think about him again until after Gillette had been detained.
"To my horror and shame, I later saw him in an orange jumpsuit giving a jailhouse interview to Channel 8."
The attorney is now representing Gillette pro bono. Before the indictments, he had filed a motion for a speedy trial and a writ of habeas corpus. This week, he says he will seek a low bail for Gillette who, since being incarcerated, has been evicted from his residence.
In addition to seeking help from Sloane, Gillette reportedly had gone to the campus television studio wanting to talk about his problems with the VA, and he had sent a letter to a member of Congress about the same thing -- an action that led to the second indictment.
On the day he was arrested, according to one source, Gillette had politely interrupted his professor by saying, "Dr. Travis, I don't want to disturb your class, but I'm so angry I can't really explain it in words."
When the professor asked whether it was related to class, Gillette explained that he was a veteran needing help and mentioned several times that he was "in a lot of pain" and needed medical attention.
Mentioning his high grade-point average, the student said he was now failing and wanted the professor to talk to the president or vice president (presumably of the university).
No doubt the statement that caused the most alarm -- the one mentioned in the affidavit for search and arrest warrant -- was when Gillette said:
"I need medical attention. I would never do anything to any of the girls at the college, I want y'all to understand that. But I'm mad, understand that. I'm fighting hopping-out-of-the-back-of-a-truck-with-an-AK-47 mad."
The exchange was very calm on the part of both men and ended with Gillette again saying he was in pain and probably needed to go to the hospital. He asked the professor once more whether he would contact the vice president, and the professor said he would.
"Thank you," Gillette said as he left the classroom.
Sloane said it was more than an hour later that the incident was reported and the school was locked down.
Very clearly what happened in that classroom was a cry for help from a desperate man who had been trying to navigate the VA system, a challenge that can be frustrating at best.
This is a story that is not unique. Too many veterans returning from service are not finding the help they need.
Sadly, some only get attention when they do something disturbing that causes widespread alarm.Gillette obviously needs help. Instead of punishing him, let's get him the assistance he deserves.
Bob Ray Sanders' column appears Sundays and Wednesdays.817-390-7775
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