Teacher and author McLaw
CBS DC: A Maryland middle school teacher has been placed on administrative leave after he allegedly authored two fiction books using a pseudonym, with one depicting a “futuristic school shooting.”
Members of the Dorchester Sheriff’s Office, the Cambridge Police Department and the Dorchester County Public School board have removed Mace’s Lane Middle School teacher Patrick McLaw for allegedly penning two books under the alias, “Dr. K.S. Voltaer.” One of the books, “The Insurrectionist,” (2011) depicts “the largest school massacre” in history, WBOC-TV reports. A second book from 2013, Lilith’s Heir (2013), is also available on Amazon and is described as a sequel penned by “K Voltaer.”
A press release published on Monday by the Dorchester County superintendent of schools says Patrick McLaw, 23, has been placed on a leave of absence pending an ongoing investigation “due to significant matters of concern brought forth by law enforcement.”
“While on administrative leave, he is not allowed to come onto school property or participate in school events,” the statement continues. “Mr. McLaw’s teaching duties have been assigned to qualified personnel to insure the smooth transition of students into the fall semester,” the statement reads.
Dorchester Sheriff James Phillips told WBOC that McLaw was taken in for an emergency medical evaluation but the sheriff declined to disclose the current whereabouts of McLaw. Police swept Mace’s Lane Middle School for bombs and guns on the same day McLaw was taken in for the evaluation – coming up empty in the search.
“The information we received caused us to return to Dorchester County and immediately take the following steps,” Phillips said, according to My Eastern Shore MD. “A K-9 sweep was conducted at the Mace’s Lane School looking for explosive devices and other weapons. A secondary search was performed by police and school officials looking for suspicious packages or other items. Both of these searches were negative.”
“The residence of the teacher in Wicomico County was searched by personnel,” Phillips said, with no weapons found, reports WBOC.”A further check of Maryland State Police databases also proved to be negative as to any weapons registered to him. McLaw was suspended by the Dorchester County Board of Education pending an investigation and is no longer in the area. He is currently at a location known to law enforcement and does not currently have the ability to travel anywhere.”
An excerpt from “The Insurrectionist” posted to Amazon reads: “On 18 March 2902, a massacre transpired on the campus of Ocean Park High School, claiming the lives of nine hundred forty-seven individuals–the largest school massacre in the nation’s history. And the entire country now begins to ask two daunting questions: How? and Why? After the federal government becomes involved, and after examining the bouquet of black roses that lies in front of the school’s sign, it becomes evident that the hysteria is far from over.”
A USA Today archived story shows that McLaw previously made national news after helping a 14-year-old student self-publish his own e-books on Amazon.
The Cambridge Police Department told WBOC that police presence at Mace’s Lane Middle School will continue “for as long as we deem it necessary,” adding that the police and sheriff’s department say there is nothing to worry about.
This is alarming (if all the facts are presented). Is the teacher not allowed to write/publish fiction? Did they do a comprehensive background check on him? Was there anything else that concerned the administrators about the teacher? The first book was published several years ago (which has his own name listed as the author), so why the concern now?
Is the teacher not allowed Freedom of Speech?
DCG