Featured photo: Thomas Scott Latting , a local man accused of threatening to burn down school while using racial slurs
Written by Tanya Terry
A probable cause conference is scheduled for February 29 for a 37-year-old Flint Township man charged with a hate crime and and threatening to kill staff members and burn down a local elementary school. Thomas Scott Latting is accused of threatening to kill everyone at McMonagle Elementary School in Mt. Morris Township, in the Westwood Heights School District. He is also accused of yelling racial slurs that are directed towards Blacks.
Latting is is charged with three felonies, including False Report or Threat of Terrorism, a felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison; False Report or Threat of Bomb or using a Harmful Device, a 4-year felony and Ethnic Intimidation, a 2-year felony. He is also charged with a Intentional Threat to Commit Act of Violence Against School, School Employees or Students, a 1-year misdemeanor.
“The victim was working as an aftershool teacher at the McMonagle Elementary School in the Westwood Heights School District,” said Genesee County Prosecutor David Leyton at a press conference held in the 67th District Court in downtown Flint on Friday, February 23.
Leyton continued: “A parent, identified as Mr. Latting, arrived at the school to pick up his daughter. Latting became upset regarding the dismissal time for his daughter following an afterschool activity. He then began yelling racial slurs and yelling, and I quote, ‘ I’m going to come back and kill all of you and burn this * to the ground.’ While stating this threat, Latting was pointing at the school and other staff members.”
Leyton explained the dismissal time for the afterschool activity was earlier than Latting had expected. The dismissal was at 5 p.m., but Latting arrived at between 5:30 and 5:40 p.m. The school had contacted Latting’s wife about the dismissal. But, there was confusion about which door Latting should pick his child up at. This became the issue that upset Latting
The victim stated she had a legitimate fear of Latting and believed he would follow through with his statements. So, she reported the incident to the Westwood Heights school superintendent and the Mt. Morris Township Police Department.
“The FBI Threat Center was also informed as was the State Police Intelligence Center,” said Leyton.
“Mr. Latting previously served a seven-year prison sentence after pleading guilty in 2009 to one count of Explosives, one count of Arson of a Dwelling House and three counts of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon.”
According to Leyton, this was taken into consideration as part of the probable cause analysis.
“Mr. Latting appears to have a volatile personality, based not only this incident, but his past criminal record.”
Fortunately, no one was harmed during the incident.
Leyton said Latting is considered “innocent until proven guilty” in this case.
He also said he has always believed the Ethnic Intimidation Law in Michigan is not strong enough, as a two-year felony only when accompanied by a threat of bodily harm or property damage.
The charging language for the ethnic intimidation charge is that Latting “maliciously, with a specific intent to intimidate or harass the victim because of her color and/or race – and he threatened to cause physical contact with her.”
Michigan State Police Lieutenant Kim Vetter asked the community to say something when they see something suspicious.
“It’s all of our responsibilities to protect our schools and our communities,” she stated.
As of Feb. 23, Latting was out on bond, according to Deputy Chief Assistant Prosecutor John Potbury.
