On September 10, 2019 at 1025 hours, the West Monroe Police Department was alerted about an armed white male and another white male with him on the campus of West Monroe High School. West Monroe Police has a substation at the high school and an officer was present doing a routine walk through. As a result, the two males were taken into custody within three minutes.
The suspects were identified as Matthew W. Hutson (w/m; dob: 1/1/1962) and Theodore Christopher Herr (w/m; dob: 3/15/1983). Hutson had a firearm visible and in a holster. He was carrying a clipboard and stated that he was with a Fugitive Task Force and was looking for someone. Herr was carrying a concealed firearm. Both men were taken into custody without incident.
The West Monroe Police Department, Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office, Louisiana State Police, Metro Narcotics, and Monroe Police Department all responded to the incident. Each classroom was cleared by a member of law enforcement and WMHS administration. The school was clear of the lock-down at 1130 hours.
Based on the investigation, these is no evidence that these men intended on harming anyone. At no point were the firearms displayed in a threatening manner other than being on a closed campus. They are charged with LA RS 14:95.2 Carrying a firearm or dangerous weapon by a student or non-student on school property, LA RS 14:40.6 Unlawful Disruption of Operation of a Public School LA RS 14:63 Criminal Trespass and are being booked into the Ouachita Parish Corrections Center.
In the police arrest reports, Hutson initially stated that he and Herr were on campus for fugitive recovery, but later Hutson stated that the two were on campus looking for Hutson's girlfriend's grand-daughter who Hutson believed was allegedly in possesion of or selling drugs.