ALFRED – Knives, box cutters, a gun, ammunition and an array of other items have all been detected through security screenings conducted by judicial marshals of people seeking to enter the four courthouses in York County.
The arrest of a Sanford man caught during a screening allegedly carrying crystal methamphetamine on him when he went to York County Superior Court building brought up questions of what sorts of items people might have in their pockets.
There are four court buildings in York County – the Maine District courts in Biddeford, Springvale and York, and the Superior Court in Alfred.
Elaine Clark, spokeswoman for the Maine Judicial Branch, provided a list for 2018 through the end of October of what judicial marshals found on those entering the buildings during screenings in all four courts. She said the average entry screening coverage in the four York County courts is approximately 70 percent.
From Jan. 1 through Oct. 30, some 71,299 people were screened. Judicial marshals removed one firearm, ammunition from four people, one ammunition clip, 897 knives, 64 scissors, 19 box cutters, 12 razors, 108 “leatherman-type” tools, two nail files, 87 mace or other chemical weapons, three martial arts weapons and two sets of handcuffs.
The figures are taken from rough numbers kept by judicial marshals, said Clark. Currently, she said, there is no formal data entry system for reports of items confiscated at entry screenings – though that could change when the judicial branch rolls out a new digital case management system.
Michael Coty, director of the state’s Office of Judicial Marshals, said people should not bring knives, firearms, or sharp objects with them when they enter a court building.
“Even if the person carrying the material has no malicious intent, it could get into the wrong hands and be used to inflict harm,” said Coty. “Entry screening is the first step in assuring a safe and secure facility. Knives, sharp objects, and chemicals such as mace are confiscated at entry screening to protect everyone in the courthouse.”
People who enter the district courts in Biddeford, Springvale and York are there solely to do court business.
While the York County Court House building in Alfred houses some York County government offices, as well as the court functions, the majority of people entering through the doors are doing so because they have business with the court. Of those doing the latter, people are either making appearances in the criminal court, paying a fine, or doing business with the civil division.
York County District Attorney Kathryn Slattery has been working in courthouses in York County for more than 30 years. Even after all those years, the alleged attempt to bring drugs into the courthouse in Alfred surprised her, she said.
“I am grateful that the screeners were able to detect that substance as well as the weapons others sought to bring into the courthouse,” said Slattery in an email. “I know Chief Justice (Leigh) Saufley has made courthouse security a priority, and I have seen a marked increase in the level of security over the past several years. Some of our facilities make security a challenge, but there are professionals working constantly to try and improve security methods.”
“Anyone coming to the courthouse should expect to be searched just as they would at an airport or any other public building,” Slattery said. “(They) should leave at home any items which could be viewed as weapons. Unfortunately in this day and age, this is just a necessary fact of life.”
— Senior Staff Writer Tammy Wells can be contacted at 780-9016 or twells@journaltribune.com.
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