Shooting, bombing planned

The group met to plan a bombing. Picking an experienced shooter was also added to the blueprint.

No, the scene was not a surly group of terrorists meeting in an abandoned warehouse-but a gathering invited to formulate a yearly federally-required disaster drill at the Saratoga Care Center.

Though law enforcement and fire officials were invited, those present at the Platte Valley Community Center meeting included members of the Saratoga Care Center, Laramie Peaks Therapy and Platte Valley Clinic staff, Carbon County Public Health officials, the new Carbon County Emergency Coordinator and a Carbon County Commissioner.

The forum, which began at 10:15 on July 3, saw those present discuss plans and reactions for a three part plan including an active shooter, a hostage situation and a suspicious package which would turn out later to be a "bomb."

Platte Valley Clinic RN Mandy Cooper led the group through the plans in which an "active shooter" would move through the care center and the response the staff and emergency responders should take.

A suspicious package was also planned as part of the drill with the package to contain a bomb which was to be represented indoors by an innocuous handbag carrying a cell phone and booby trapped with harmless party popper devices.

Fireworks Planned

Though attendees agreed the part of the shooter should be a law enforcement individual with weapons training, due to the Saratoga Police Department declining to participate citing lack of staff, the active shooter was eventually designated to be former Marine Corps Lieutenant Colonel and current Saratoga Care Center Administrator Mark Pesognelli. The plan was for Pesognelli to move through the facility with an unloaded gun and simulate gunfire using M-150s (fireworks), which Cooper displayed at the meeting.

Though the handbag was to represent the bomb, the explosion itself was to be represented by a large cylindrical group of Black Cat fireworks.

It was discussed at the meeting that the use of fireworks should be approved through the Saratoga Fire Department and Saratoga Care Center personnel said they would make those calls.

Preparations Made

Newly appointed Carbon County Emergency Coordinator Ron Brown asked about threats or hazards outside the building, then praised the overall plan saying, "Your scenario-I am very impressed with it. I love the progressiveness of it. Progressive at the stage to task these entities; I mean fire, police all this-that's great."

Brown then expressed concern for disrupting the care center resident's well being. Cooper responded it would disrupt the residents some, but that the drill was a federally mandated yearly evacuation. Pesognelli asked if there was a way to do the evacuation before any fireworks were set off. Cooper replied that the plan could be altered that way.

The first evacuation point for residents at the care center was determined to be the Saratoga ambulance barn, which is located near the care center facility. Options for further transport were listed and discussed with Carbon County Public Health Emergency Coordinator Emily Kaluzny describing evacuation and emergency medical facilities that could be set up at the Jeffrey Center in Rawlins.

Injuries/Hostages

The plan included having two persons wounded, a fatality and a hostage taken. It also included a police presence to take down the shooter and clear the building so that fire fighting personnel could then fight the resulting fire. Though Saratoga Mayor John Zieger had agreed in person before the meeting to either attend or send a representative, no Saratoga Police representation was present at the meeting. It was agreed by those present to call the Saratoga Police Chief and Saratoga Mayor again.

Classic Air Medical was invited to triage the wounded and did, indeed, fly in the day of the drill.

Closing the Meeting

Other details were discussed including closing the roads and having water on hand for both responders and residents. Eventually, everyone agreed it was a good plan and the meeting was adjourned.

Getting Ready

At 8:30 a.m on Friday, July 12, Mandy Cooper was locked in a therapy room using Halloween makeup, gelatin, red hair spray and fake blood to simulate wounds, both fatal and not, on three "victims."

Calib Lane was given a kidney contusion while Luka Lane got an arm wound. The "fatality" honor went to Saratoga Care Center maintenance person Tristan Ponish, who received a large chest wound.

Cooper almost gleefully applied the various goopy concoctions to the boys who would have to lay still while the mixtures dried. When the wounds were dry enough, they were covered with a plastic press and seal and the three put garments on to hide the wounds and were told to go act naturally among the residents until the drill began.

While the wounds were still drying, Cooper rigged up the "suspicious package" which was a pink handbag. The package had a cell phone put inside which was to ring at the start of the drill. For staff or anyone curious enough to check on the ringing handbag, several champagne poppers were tied to the zipper of the bag to go off loudly, yet harmlessly, should that person try to open the bag.

The bag was then placed in the dining area of the Saratoga Care Center.

Action

Classic Air Medical landed at Shively Field at 9:55 a.m. with technicians there to aid in triage.

At 10 a.m., designated "active shooter" Mark Pesognelli made the bomb threat saying that the facility had killed his parents and that he intended to set off a bomb in the care center as soon as possible.

Almost immediately after that call, alarms began sounding at the care center followed shortly thereafter by residents being evacuated through the front door.

After the residents were cleared from the building, Pesognelli entered with a personal sidearm which had earlier been cleared of ammunition and zip tied through the barrel.

He then stepped back outside with Calib Lane and lit a M-150 which exploded with the sound of a gunshot. Lane then took his position on the floor by the door as a victim.

Another firecracker was set off and Luka Lane ran across the street to Kathy Glode Park with his arm wound.

Pesognelli brought Ponish outside and simulated shooting the "fatality" as the third M-150 went off.

Pesognelli then went to the patio just outside the care center's dining room and set off the "bomb", which was an approximately four inch diameter drum of Black Cat fireworks.

After the near simultaneous explosions that were created, Pesognelli went to the nurse's station and took Tammy Vyvey "hostage."

Due to a lack of any police or fire presence, questions began to be asked if anyone had called 911.

It was then confirmed that two calls had been made to 911 emergency dispatch as the care center's alarm was set off. At least one of those calls detailed the bomb threat.

A Good Mark

Saratoga Care Center staff, County Public Health officials and the Carbon County Emergency Coordinator seemed pleased with the care center staff's efficiency when they learned the time it took from when the bomb threat had been received to a point where everyone had cleared the building was 11 minutes-down from 13 minutes the year before and 17.5 minutes in 2017.

A Bad Mark

Those same officials appeared displeased by a lack of response from the Saratoga Police Department. Though 911 calls had been made, only one Saratoga police officer showed up at the drill. That officer said that he was part-time, unaware of the situation and declined to clear the building when asked because he was carrying live ammunition.

Two full Saratoga fire trucks and six firemen in full bunker gear were staged and ready to go to the event, but received no call from dispatch. Even when Saratoga Fire Chief Pat Vining called dispatch later, he did not get a response.

Classic Air Medical and their crew remained at Shively Field through the drill because no one was dispatched to bring the crew to the scene.

End To An Incident

County Public Health official Emily Kaluzny noted, after the drill, that the care center had done their job well and that it was too bad others had not.