CHESTERTOWN — A former Washington College student on Wednesday was served an arrest warrant charging him with making a threat of mass violence on the Chestertown campus and associated crimes.
With assistance from the Cecil County Sheriff’s Office, Grafton Steele Howard, 25, of Chesapeake City was located at his residence at about 8:30 p.m. Tuesday and taken into custody for an emergency mental health evaluation at a local hospital.
Following his release from the hospital, Howard was served with the arrest warrant and an interim Extreme Risk Protective Order, a court order that prohibits him from purchasing or possessing firearms and ammunition for the duration of the order and requires him to surrender firearms and ammunition to law enforcement.
Initially, Howard was seen by a District Court commissioner in Elkton on Wednesday and held in the Cecil County Detention Center without bond.
Later on Wednesday, following a bail review before a District Court judge in Cecil County, Howard was released after posting $5,000 unsecured personal bond.
His trial is set for March 9.
The charges against Howard stem from alleged offenses on Tuesday, Jan. 20, which was the first day of classes for the spring semester at the college.
Chestertown Police Chief Ron Dixon said just before 6 p.m. his officers received a telephone call from a male who asked what would happen if he went onto the campus of Washington College and committed a crime of mass violence, specifically if he were to shoot members of the school’s administration and public safety officers.
According to a news release from the CPD, the caller — subsequently identified as Howard — provided detailed and specific information that led to the threat being deemed credible.
At the same time that CPD officers were working to identify the caller and his possible whereabouts, they contacted the Washington College Department of Public Safety to brief them on the situation.
“A saturation of uniformed Police Officers responded to the campus in an effort to secure the area and increase visibility,” the news release states.
A shelter-in-place order was issued by college officials while law enforcement continued their attempt to gather more information on the caller and locate him.
Sgt. Chris Schwink of the Chestertown Police Department led the investigation.
Assisting agencies included the Kent County Narcotics Task Force, Kent County Sheriff’s Office, Washington College Department of Public Safety, Maryland Natural Resources Police, Maryland State Police-Centreville Barrack and the Cecil County Sheriff’s Office.
“I am extremely thankful and proud of the teamwork that was demonstrated between multiple agencies. I truly believe that a tragedy was averted,” Dixon wrote in a text message to The Evening Enterprise.
He also thanked community members for their support and patience.