CHEHALIS, Wash. — Drug crimes, overdoses, contraband, and alleged employee misconduct continue to plague Washington’s maximum security juvenile lock-up, even though the state has promised to crack down on security lapses at the Green Hill School.
Public records show there have been at least 34 9-1-1 calls from the Chehalis detention facility since Washington Governor Jay Inslee told KING 5 in November that the state has issued “…stronger measures to keep drugs out.”
There are also questions about numerous drug seizures in years past that Green Hill administrators did not report to police, including one case that could have allowed an inmate to be free to commit robberies and a murder in Spokane.
Between just Jan. 10-15, there were four inmate fentanyl overdoses, according to the Department of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF), which runs Green Hill.
One victim, 18-year-old Connor Strange, of Chehalis was “code red” and “unresponsive” when paramedics were called on January 14 by frantic Green Hill staff members. His father, Leo Strange, said Connor OD’d four times prior in his young life, but he did not expect it to happen inside of a detention facility. Green Hill staff members used four doses of Narcan opioid overdose treatment to save Strange’s life.
Even parents who said their children do not use drugs are concerned.
“I pray and I talk to God because I don’t know if my son is gonna make it through there,” said “Mary," who requested an alias to protect her teenage son, a student inmate. She said her son has never had a drug problem, but “…people have come to him and dared him to take one of those pills.” She also says her son was assaulted, and Green Hill management has not responded to her concerns for his safety.
Lewis County prosecutors have filed charges against more than 20 current and former inmates based on evidence they seized during the execution of a search warrant at Green Hill in August.
As KING 5 reported, the search confirmed tips that drug detectives received claiming that Green Hill administrators held some drugs and contraband that they seized over the years in lockers. Body camera video obtained through public records requests showed detectives pulling bags of fentanyl pills, marijuana and vape pens, Xanax, and at least one homemade weapon from the storage lockers. Police reports showed that potentially more than 100 felony cases had not been reported over five years.
As prosecutors charge those cases retroactively, the potential harms from Green Hill's lack of action are coming to light.
“There’s no excuse for it not being reported,” said Jasmine Muller of Spokane. Last February, a group of boys killed her 17-year-old friend, Tyler Rowell, in a marijuana deal gone bad.
One of the accused killers is Gavin McGregor, a former inmate at Green Hill.
“He wasn’t the one who pulled the trigger, but he did orchestrate the robbery,” Muller says.
McGregor faces a murder charge in Spokane County, but in December Lewis County prosecutors charged McGregor with a 2020 criminal case from his Green Hill days. Charging documents say several staff members witnessed McGregor retrieve a bundle of marijuana that was tossed over Green Hill’s fence on October 21, 2020. However, administrators never reported the case to the police.
With an additional sentence of up to three years for drug dealing inside a detention facility, McGregor might not have been free to cross paths with Tyler Rowell in February of last year. Jasmine Muller’s friend might still be alive. “It could have been avoidable if the Green Hill School had told authorities about what was going on,” she said.
Charging the old Green Hill cases could also upend the lives of some former inmates who are trying to live on the straight and narrow.
“I’m trying to be a better person, and this is just holding me back,” Shaquille Woods of Everett told KING 5 after he was charged with felony possession of a cell phone from his time in Green Hill. Woods says he’s been employed and stayed out of trouble in the 2 ½ years since he got out.
Woods says the cell phone he was caught with in July of 2021 came from a Green Hill Staff member who offered to sell him a phone. “I paid him. I sent it to his P.O. box,” Woods explained.
The latest of numerous Green Hill employees over the years to be charged for contraband or misconduct is Aaron Snideman. Charging documents from January 22 said the kitchen employee was caught after a “small bag of marijuana” fell out of his pocket. Snideman declined to speak with KING 5, referring questions to his public defender, who did not return a call.
Last summer, the mayors and police chiefs of Centralia and Chehalis sent a letter imploring Governor Jay Inslee to launch an investigation into “compromised employees,” security lapses and “many other failures” at Green Hill. When that request was rebuffed, and Green Hill administrators declined to hand over seized drugs, the police department’s drug detectives applied for a search warrant in Lewis County Superior Court.
In an interview with the KING 5 Investigators in November, Inslee said the search warrant was “…unfortunate. But I can tell you the good news is out of that has come stronger measures to keep drugs out.” In a December 4th press conference, Inslee repeated that there was “substantial improvement” in security at Green Hill, even though keeping drugs out is an “on-going problem” at many detention facilities.
In a written statement on February 1, the governor’s office admitted that Green Hill was battling a unique problem. It stems from the legislature’s decision to alter the facility to house 17- to 25-year-old males. “DCYF’s facilities and systems were designed to house and serve children and teenagers, not young adults who have a history of violence and gang activity,” said spokesperson Jaime Smith. She says Green Hill does not have the space for segregating violent inmates, or “tools and strategies” that adult prisons have. She says DCYF is “considering options” for a fix.
The Washington State Department of Children, Youth and Families, which runs Green Hill, also admits it is “grappling with challenges” and “reforms” are necessary. DCYF says it continues to “increase screening and search procedures” and is working with local police.
"There is no question we are grappling with challenges related to rehabilitating a youth population that is older and more likely to suffer from fentanyl-related substance use disorders. Reforms to the way we manage our facilities are necessary. We are heavily emphasizing prevention, detection, intervention and treatment with youth and staff. We continue to increase screening and search procedures, including recommendations from Chehalis PD. We also have invested in body scanners and bag scanners to improve detection of people trying to bring contraband into the facility, and we report suspected cases to Chehalis PD. This includes a recent arrest of an employee for marijuana possession. We will work to prosecute those who bring drugs into our facility, and we will continue to cooperate and collaborate with local law enforcement on additional actions and investigations," reads a statement from DCYF sent to KING 5.
State Senate minority leader Sen. John Braun (R-Chehalis) has been critical of what he calls Green Hill’s “lack of cooperation” with local authorities and the Governor’s refusal to investigate further. He’s also concerned that the age 17-25-year-old males who are sentenced to the facility are not getting the rehabilitation they deserve.
Some parents agree. “Mary” can’t wait until the day her son walks out of Green Hill.
“I know that people (are) coming close to dying at this facility. It’s really scary,” she said.
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