Idaho Mountain Express: Luke’s ‘locks down’ to protect family

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Friday, March 5, 2010

Luke’s ‘locks down’ to protect family

Authorities investigate alleged no-contact-order violation

By TERRY SMITH
Express Staff Writer

Ron Lloyd, manager of building services at St. Luke’s Wood River Medical Center, monitors people coming into the facility following implementation of lockdown procedures Wednesday and Thursday at the hospital. Photo by David N. Seelig

The words "I know where you are" were enough to send St. Luke's Wood River Medical Center into security-lockdown mode Wednesday morning after they were received as a cell phone text message by a woman whose infant child was a patient at the facility.

Hospital and law enforcement authorities perceived the message as a possible threat, considering that it was allegedly written by the woman's estranged husband, a man with past criminal convictions for violent behavior.

An "attempt-to-locate" bulletin issued Wednesday by the Blaine County Sheriff's Office identified the estranged husband as Bryce Deon Amos, a 31-year-old Twin Falls resident. Sheriff's Lt. Curtis Miller said Thursday afternoon that police have talked with Amos but that he had not been arrested.

"We're basically conducting an investigation into a civil-protection-order violation," Miller said. "We're just trying to get all our ducks in a row and see if there was a crime committed."

Miller said authorities had not determined if Amos had actually intended to make a threat against the woman.

"It's a situation we're looking into and we're not going to give anything definite until we know for sure," he said.

The lockdown, started Wednesday morning at St. Luke's, remained in effect at press deadline Thursday afternoon. Under the hospital's security plan, all doors to the facility were kept locked except for the emergency room door, which was kept staffed by hospital personnel to monitor people coming into the facility.
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"We remain on lockdown at this time, and until we hear otherwise from law enforcement, all our procedures will remain in place," hospital spokeswoman Tanya Keim said.

Regardless of heightened security, hospital services continued as usual.

"People are coming and going, surgeries are happening and people are being seen just as normal," Keim said.

Heightened security measures were also put in place Thursday at Hailey and Woodside elementary schools.

Scott Manning, Blaine County School District director of safety, said Amos and the woman have children who attend the schools and "perimeter code yellow" security measures were implemented for precautionary purposes.

School was not in session at either school on Thursday because of parent-teacher conferences. Manning said all exterior doors to the schools were locked with the exception of the main doors, which were monitored by armed school resource officers.

The woman has apparently been living in Blaine County and trying to keep her whereabouts unknown to her husband. According to Twin Falls County court records, she filed for divorce against Amos on Dec. 21.

Court records indicate that Amos has misdemeanor convictions for domestic battery in 2006 and 2007 and is currently on probation for a 2009 felony conviction of possession of a controlled substance.

The attempt-to-locate bulletin issued on Amos described him as 6 feet 2 inches tall and weighing between 210 and 250 pounds. It stated that he has a shaved head and a red goatee and might be driving a purple 1995 Dodge Stratus.

Some county officials were warned that Amos could be "armed and dangerous."

Terry Smith: tsmith@mtexpress.com

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bryce amos – twin falls ID

03/13/10 - 17:14

im sorry i forgot to mention that the posession charge i am currently on probation for was a charge i admitted to to keep Denisa out of prison considering she is already on felony probation for fraud. I am not blaming anyone cuz like she has said in a recorded phone call between her and I, I didnt have to do it. I did do it so that our children would not be taken from us it was after that, that she decided to file for divorce. I am happy i did what i did because it has helped me become a better man. I am about to graduate intensive out patient treatment for it so it has led to my sobriety i just wish she would see that she has a meth problem and get help herself. according to idaho health and welfare she is a fit and proper parent to have custody of our children. where does our system have their heads? Hmmmmm. but again all i can do is pray for the wellbeing of our children and that someday she will see that drugs will get you no where. except in my case they have gotten me on probation and back on the right track to clean healthy living

bryce amos – twin falls Id.

03/13/10 - 12:08

sorry by the way the only guns i own are attached to my arms if any one would like a pic of me u can find me on myspace at G in twin falls ID. my pic when ur looking is me in my leather jacket and sunglasses if u want leave a friend request i will accept and u can go on there and c my pics as well there are two im not proud of and they have scooby doo on them i will edit them pics as well as the ones of me in my tagged photos holding alcohol im not apposed to it but i do not use alcohol or drugs anymore im very happy with jane and my sobriety again god bless u and thank u

bryce amos – twin falls Id.

03/13/10 - 12:01

when i first got arrested for this i just thought ok here we go. just some more of her hate towards me for going thru with the divorce. now im seeing the severity of it all and everyone thinks im such a bad guy. i have had domestic issues in the past ive obtained counceling and adressed all my anger and domestic issues i was previously baptized in the christian church i feel anybody can change only if their heart desires my heart so desires because all i want is a longlasting healthy relationship with my children whom i truly adore and love wtih my heart. u read the texts verbatim that jane posted yesterday i hope and pray that maybe you will all come to your senses and realize im not the monster everyone is making me out to be thank you for your time in this and god bless you all

Frank Gooding

03/13/10 - 11:10

It sounds like someone should investiage the Police Dept. and or whoever issued the Lock Down Order. It seems the ones in charge do not have the brains or understanding to realize that type of over reacting actually does more damage to society and public attitudes about Law Enforcement than almost anything else they do. Come on Blaine County lets not put up with this kind of mismanagement of circumstances.
Frank

Jane

03/12/10 - 20:18

Hi Everyone that has responded to this non sense, I have a little story for you, the day that this happened I was sitting right next to him and Denisa called him telling Bryce about his baby being in the hospital well only if you all seen the crap this woman has put Bryce through you all would have a different opinion. Bryce called the hospital and asked if his daughter was ok and he told the nurse that he was the dad and is concerned because Denisa called him telling him the baby was in the hospital again. The nurse told him she is in room such n such and what was wrong with the baby. Bryce did nothing wrong, when Denisa text him saying you don't care about us. Bryce explained to her yes I do care about my kids and I know that the baby is in such n such room and that she is going to be ok. If you all would like I would be more than happy to post all the text from both of them. In the order Bryce has the right to contact the kids but because he would not come and pick Denisa up a few weeks ago and 2 days after she filed a po on him she got a wittle mad poor little thing and now has gone to far all because he does not want to be with her.

Reply to Jane

Jane

03/12/10 - 21:04

Here are the text that was sent between the two and I am putting these exactly how they were received and sent.

Denisa: You dont care that she is admitted to hospital you take care of yor self like you do old time have gril to have home. ( Can you tell by her text she is does not speak English very well)

Bryce: I called the hospital she has pneumonia and the nurse said not to worry she is doing fine she is in room $#@ now tell me I dont care.

Denisa: You need to livas alone you dont care.

Bryce: I do care i love them kids more than life its self and u cant tell me any different ur the one keeping them from me so that shows who doesnt care cuz a good parent would not deprive their children contact with the other parent in whom they love and miss should i talk like a child so u can understand i did use big words.

So now that you all have gotten to read these petty little text please enlighten me as to exactly where any of this non sense should of caused a lock down of the schools and hospital also if you read carefully in the reports you will notice that the papers say allegedly reported a text message saying "I know where you are" there was no proof and will be no proof because that is not what was said at all , you all have now read what was really said.

als

03/07/10 - 08:42

If you are a victim of domestic abuse, the text " I know where you are" would be pretty disturbing I think. We hear stories in the news all the time about abuse or death at the hands of an estranged spouse or partner. And many times, protective orders were in place. We all respond the same way, how did this person get away with this, or where were the police? Better safe than sorry. If this was overreacting that helped ensure the safety of a family, and maybe prevent a bad decision by the man in question, then I hope authorities keep overeacting.

Reply to als

Jane

03/12/10 - 20:23

If you only knew her history and truth and all her pretty little voicemails I am postive you would change you mind about all this I promise. Domestic abuse lol wow oh the stories that are all about to happen lmao.

babygirl

03/06/10 - 17:09

WAIT! This guy only sent a text message and it wasn't even threatening. Geesh, must be a slow day in K-Town to lock all the schools and hospital over a stupid text msg. Get a life!

Henry

03/05/10 - 11:36

All this over a text message? I know stalking and restraining orders can be serious, but this rings of over reacting and small town news. Where I live part of the year, there are gang bangers showing up at the hospital along with screaming relatives, etc. They handle all this and "never" lock down the hospital.

Babyboy

03/05/10 - 11:06

Wow I swear some people just get a rise outta people with threats. poor woman and her baby. hope all gets better. Trust me I know what its like to have a crazy ex stalker. My prayers go out to you and I hope they find the creep and send him to where he belongs..
~babyboy

Yawn

03/05/10 - 00:09

If the dude was gonna show up at the hospital, I doubt very much he would telegraph his intentions. All this and they aren't even sure he has violated the law.

concerned citzen

03/04/10 - 22:47

I don't understand why this guy's face isn't plastered all over the internet and news channels. If they think he is that dangerous every measure to find him should be taken. If they think the guy could be armed, why isn't the hospital being guarded by actual law enforcement that carries weapons?

Reply to concerned citzen

Babyboy

03/05/10 - 11:08

I conquer!! they need to put pics up of what he looks like. I know like 100 people that are 200lbs with a goatee!!! be faster to locate him if we knew what he looks like

Reply to concerned citzen

True that – Blaine Co.

03/05/10 - 16:56

You would think the cops would be there but, oh yea there's no money inside...