East High graduate linked to alleged bomb plot

I had not been blogging much the past week or so, due to other things happening here. So I had not mentioned the events at Green Bay, shortly after the incident in Canada. It is not necessarily happening 'out there' any longer...

Today, there is a third young man in custody.

East High graduate linked to alleged bomb plot

Netwal 'played a role,' police say

By Andy Nelesen
anelesen@greenbaypressgazette.com September 17, 2006

A third person in an alleged bomb plot to attack Green Bay East High School was arrested after investigators interviewed him and determined he "played a role" in the conspiracy, a police detective said.

The man, Bradley Netwal, an 18-year-old 2006 East High School graduate, was arrested about 3:55 p.m. Friday and booked into the Brown County Jail for conspiracy to commit first-degree intentional homicide and conspiracy to commit arson.

Netwal has not been charged. He is to appear in Brown County Court at 2:30 p.m. Monday.

Green Bay police Cmdr. Tom Molitor said detectives interviewed Netwal as part of a sweeping investigation and placed him in custody after the interview.

Molitor did not provide specifics Saturday.

"When a plan like this is formulated, people play different roles in the plan," Molitor said. "He played a role."

East High students Shawn Sturtz and William Cornell, both 17, were arrested at school Thursday after officials uncovered an alleged plot to bomb the school and shoot classmates. Sturtz and Cornell are both in the Brown County Jail being held in lieu of $500,000. They are expected to be charged Thursday in connection with the alleged plot.

Molitor described Netwal as a friend of Cornell and Sturtz.

Brown County District Attorney John Zakowski was reviewing reports from the case late Saturday afternoon and declined to characterize the suspect's involvement until the review is finished.

"As we review the file, we'll see to what extent and if charges are appropriate," he said. "As part of the investigation his name came up as being involved at some point with the other two suspects.

"There was enough given in statements and in his interview to warrant the hold right now," Zakowski said.

He said it was not surprising that another person may be involved in the case.

"There was information early on that there may be somebody else that was involved," Zakowski said.

Interviews with other people connected to the Columbine-style plot pointed police to the third suspect, Molitor said.

"We are trying to figure out the width and the depth and the breadth of this thing, and we're talking to a lot of people," Molitor said early Saturday. "You never know where the investigation is going to lead you."

As a precaution, school administrators brought a police dog to search the school Saturday, but the animal did not find anything.

"It was only for precautionary reasons and it was something the principal wanted to do and I'm totally behind (him)," said Green Bay School Superintendent Daniel Nerad. "They were very thorough going through the school, and they did not find anything."

He said they do not have information that there are other students police are looking for, but that the investigation is ongoing.

Last week's incident is the focus of a meeting planned for East High School parents Wednesday night at the school.

"Have them come in, ask questions, have a discussion about what the school did and just try to make sure people understand how we acted," Nerad said. "It's an opportunity to listen to parents because this is unsettling, and it's a chance to connect with the East High parent community."

The meeting begins at 7 p.m.