The Greendale High School student accused of writing a bomb threat in a boys bathroom has been ordered to have no contact with the school.
Nicholas S. Olson, 17, is charged with disorderly conduct after police said he wrote "3 DAYS TILL BOOM JK OR AM I?" on the wall of a bathroom stall. He made his initial appearance Wednesday on the misdemeanor charge. The court entered a not guilty plea for Olson after he admitted writing the bomb threat.
Milwaukee County Circuit Court Commissioner Rosa M. Barillas assigned him a $250 signature bond during that appearance, which is the promise that he pay $250 if he violates the conditions set by the court.
One of those conditions is that he have no contact with the high school while the case is ongoing.
The charges against Olson were filed late Friday afternoon.
Police and district officials believe bullying by fellow high school students—including being voted onto homecoming court as a prank—were at least part of the motive in this situation. Police originally recommended a felony charge against Olson, but the District Attorney's Office, .
The incident has prompted discussion about bullying at Greendale High School, which is ongoing in comments on our article about charges being filed against Olson. The Journal Sentinel wrote about the issue today, and Greendale Patch expects to have more tomorrow or Friday.
The bomb threat was discovered on Sept. 20, and someone from the Greendale High School administration called police at 2:23 p.m. to report the message.
When police arrived, Principal Steven Lodes took an officer to the bathroom, where they found the message written in blue ink on the wall of a bathroom stall. This was the Thursday of homecoming week, with the dance planned for Saturday night.
No activities scheduled that day were canceled, but the criminal complaint states administrators asked the Milwaukee County Bomb Squad to sweep the campus on Sept. 21 before students arrived. A second sweep was conducted Sept. 24, before classes began the next week. No explosive devices were found either time.
As police investigated, an anonymous tip led them to Olson. Police searched his locker and found notebooks and writings he appeared to have made, along with blue pens similar to the type used in the bathroom threat. The handwriting officers found in the locker appeared to closely match the writing on the wall, according to the criminal complaint.
Police spoke to Olson on Sept. 25, and say he admitted to writing the threat in the bathroom, because "he was upset and angry." Police also said "he did not have a plan to use any explosive device and further that he did not want to hurt anyone."
The officer knows Olson has been bullied, "teased and taunted by his classmates for many years," according to the criminal complaint, and that he had "just been voted onto the homecoming court as a 'joke' by other students." The officer said something similar happened during last school year's prom.
Police said Olson reported being teased all his life, and the investigating officer said he is "aware that the defendant is ostracized by the other students and appears very depressed due to the situation," according to the criminal complaint.
The complaint states a district representative told the assistant district attorney who prepared the complaint that they agreed "the defendant should not be charged with a felony but rather a misdemeanor due to to the extenuating circumstances which may have led to his conduct."
Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke said the wrong message is being sent by agreeing to lesser charges to school bomb threats, especially with the multiple false threats in Greendale this past year, according to Patch news partners Fox6Now.
“You want to teach them a lesson, charge them with the felony and they’ll have to deal with that the rest of their life,” Sheriff Clarke told Fox6Now.
Olson faces up to 90 days in jail and $1,000, if convicted. He will make his next appearance in court Oct. 11.
I am involved in alot of things & do know what's going on, like someone said I didn't. So get real, people and get this kid some "professional" help. The Greendale teachers are good, and teach our kids and the help should be coming from home.
Clearly the district should has some issues to address, however for anyone to think that Greendale is stands alone doesn't understand human nature. There isn't a school district or society on this earth that doesn't have to naturally deal with inequality and people's reaction and handling of this. The breakdown comes from the lack of individual accountability and that starts with parents, the student(s) and faculty. And I'm sure there are those that think throwing money at this issue is the path to a solution.
Ultimately the parents and child failed in this situation. That is where the buck should stop.
PARENTING is the cornerstone building block of this issue. Another poster said that the Teachers are rendered powerless by a bevy of Lawyers for the Parents who are litigious. And, that's a LOT of them. If this kid was indeed bullied for years, then that's a shame and it should be investigated and the appropriate people held accountable. But, to sit here, day after day and post one-sided comments that jump to conclusions, really do point to the real people that "don't know what they're talking about." Greendale is an excellent community in which to raise a family. But, people, we are raising wimps! We go to such great lengths to instill self-esteem, not hurt their widdle feewings and go out of our way NOT to teach a work ethic that it makes me want to puke. For the record, I was not bullied as a kid, nor did I do any bullying. When I grew up, if it was happening, we talked about it, solved the problem and moved on with our lives. We didn't keep it all bottled up, and then wonder why the "boom" happened. Sure, there were problem kids - there always will be. But unless the parents STAY involved, it will only get worse!
As for his "widdle feewings", he was bullied EVERY SINGLE DAY for 4 years. I would love to put you in a classroom for 4 years and have everyone spit gum at you, poke you, draw dicks on your important papers, and call you names. Then we'll see how "widdle" your "feewings" hurt.
In all honestly, it sounds like your post is pretty much addressing the same thing!
Authoring a liberal blog in ultra-conservative Greendale I empathize with young Mr. Olson, as I (and my family, sexuality, occupation, ect,) are constantly attacked by online bullies every time I post something... Stay strong Nicholas and remember, “Bullies are always cowards at heart..." ~ Anna Julia Cooper.
Raising a child now days is not easy. My 3 kids always had respect for everyone because we taught them that. They were spanked, which now is called abuse, but they all turned out great & are now raising families of their own. Parents are afraid to say "NO" to their kids and lots of them have no respect for anyone. And to blame the schools is wrong, it should start at home!! I've lived in Greendale since the late 60's and raised 3 great kids. Yah, bullying did go on back then, but was not blown out of proportion like it is today. Maybe if the parents would take more of an interest in what their kids are doing and try to stop this by teaching them respect, this would'nt be happening. Sorry everyone probably hates me now for saying what I have said, but it still reflects back to the parents ! Teach respect & don't be afraid to say "NO"!
(Carol) - BINGO!
If he has social deficits, then the students around him should have been educated on what that is. Even kids who struggle to read social cues deserve respect. Changing schools may help the victim but it may not. Kids with friends tend to be less of a target, and a new school means starting out with no friends. Also, the bullies just find another victim to project their anxiety on to. It is a community and school problem that should have been addressed long ago. Unfortunately, kids often don't report each and every incident--and administrators don't find out until the behavior has been going on for months or years. My question is, why weren't the other kids speaking up for him? Where they present--but getting nowhere in stopping the pattern? Why? Why were the bullies' parents in the dark about all this? Was no one talking to their kids about the homecoming election, and what their vote was and why?