ruggles

8/3/2019 Ruggles

1/52

1

PSYCHIATRIC SECURITY REVIEW BOARD

AT: WHITING FORENSIC INSTITUTE

DIVISION OF THE CONNECTICUT VALLEY HOSPITAL

MIDDLETOWN, CONNECTICUT

DATE: NOVEMBER 4, 2011

IN RE: KENNETH RUGGLES - Mandatory Review

(CGS, Section 17a-585)

AND

Temporary Leave

Filed by CVH

(CGS, Section 17a-587)

PSYCHIATRIC SECURITY REVIEW BOARD:

Mark Kirschner, Ph.D., Acting Chairman

Ellen Lachance, Executive Director

FOR DMHAS, DIVISION OF FORENSIC SERVICES:

Dr. Maya Prabhu

FOR CONNECTICUT VALLEY HOSPITAL:

Dr. Michael Lah

FOR GILEAD REHABILITATION CENTER:

Patricia Burke

FOR THE STATE:

Deborah Mabbett, ASA

FOR KENNETH RUGGLES:

Monte P. Radler, PD

ALSO IN ATTENDANCE:

Kenneth Ruggles

POST REPORTING SERVICE

HAMDEN, CT (800) 262-4102

12

1

2

3

4

5

67

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

1718

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

32

33

34

35

36

37

38

39

40

41

42

43

44

3

4

5

6

8/3/2019 Ruggles

2/52

2

Michael Daubart


HAMDEN, CT (800) 262-4102

12

1

2

3

4

5

6

8/3/2019 Ruggles

3/52

3

HEARING RE: KENNETH RUGGLES

NOVEMBER 4, 2011

. . .Verbatim proceedings of a hearing

before the Connecticut Psychiatric Security Review Board,

In Re: Kenneth Ruggles, held on November 4, 2011, at 10:36

a.m., at the Whiting Forensic Institute, Middletown,

Connecticut . . .

ACTING CHAIRMAN DR. MARK KIRSCHNER: Id

like to call to order the hearing on Kenneth Ruggles.

Would all persons who are going to testify, please rise

and raise their right hand to be sworn.

MS. ELLEN LACHANCE: You may stand.

(Whereupon, Dr. Maya Prabhu, Dr. Michael

Lah, Patricia Burke, and all potential witnesses were duly

sworn in.)

COURT REPORTER: Thank you.

ACTING CHAIRMAN KIRSCHNER: Miss Lachance,

the background information please.

MS. LACHANCE: The purpose of todays

hearing is a Mandatory Review of the Status of Kenneth

Ruggles, pursuant to Connecticut General Statute, Section


HAMDEN, CT (800) 262-4102

1

2

3

45

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

6

7

8

9

8/3/2019 Ruggles

4/52

4


NOVEMBER 4, 2011

17a-585; and Temporary Leave filed by Connecticut Valley

Hospital, pursuant to Connecticut General Statute, Section

17a-587.

I have a three-page document marked PSRB

Exhibit 1 with todays date, which lists all the materials

that will be considered as evidence for todays

proceeding.

ACTING CHAIRMAN KIRSCHNER: Id like to

bring to the attention of counsel the missing seats up

here on the Board, that were missing five members

currently. It will become necessary for members of the

Board to read the transcript of the hearing so they can

participate in the deliberations. Are there any

objections?

MS. DEBORAH MABBETT: No.

MR. MONTE P. RADLER: No objection.

ACTING CHAIRMAN KIRSCHNER: Thank you.

The first witness please.

DR. MAYA PRABHU: Good morning. My name

is Maya Prabhu. Im a consulting forensic psychiatrist

attached to the Office of the Commission for Mental Health


HAMDEN, CT (800) 262-4102

1

2

3

45

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

6

7

8

9

8/3/2019 Ruggles

5/52

5


NOVEMBER 4, 2011

and Addiction Services in the State of Connecticut and I

act as a consulting forensic psychiatrist for CVH in the

case of Mr. Kenneth Ruggles.

In preparation for todays hearing, I

spoke with Mr. Ruggles on November 1st and 3rd. I also

spoke to members of his clinical team, which include Dr.

Shahil Battell (phonetic), his attending psychiatrist, who

is present, Dr. Justin Winkel, his individual therapist,

who may yet join us, and various members of his team,

including his nursing staff, his group supervisors, his

rehab supervisors, and his prospective TL supervisor. I

will be describing Mr. Ruggles source in the hospital

since his last hearing before the Board in March of 2010

and then review the application for TL.

Mr. Ruggles has been maintained on Dutcher

3 South, an enhanced security community reintegration unit

since his hearing in March 2010. There has been no change

to his psychiatric diagnosis. On Axis I of the DSM-IV he

is diagnosed as having schizophrenia, chronic, paranoid

type, and alcohol abuse. He does not have a diagnosis on

Axis II. He has been on the antipsychotic medication


HAMDEN, CT (800) 262-4102

1

2

3

45

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

6

7

8

9

8/3/2019 Ruggles

6/52

6


NOVEMBER 4, 2011

Olanzapine (Zyprexa) at a dosage of 30 milligrams daily.

He is compliant with his medications, including those for

his medical illnesses, which I will describe in a moment.

You may recall that prior to your last

hearing with Mr. Ruggles there had been some changes to

his medications and some changes in Mr. Ruggles behavior.

However, since then, Mr. Ruggles has been absolutely

clinically stable, there have been no violent incidences,

no episodes of aggression, no threats made to other

people, and his behavior has been socially appropriate.

He has not written any letters to any government or

judicial officials or filed any legal petitions in this

time. He has shown no reoccurrence of the delusions from

which he had suffered previously, and there has been no

evidence of persecutory or grandiose thinking.

He has a number of medical problems to

which Ill return in one moment, but Ill note that his

random urines for drugs and alcohol have been negative,

and his blood serum levels for Olanzapine, his

antipsychotic medication, are -- are -- are where they are

to be slightly above perhaps the target high level of 80


HAMDEN, CT (800) 262-4102

1

2

3

45

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

6

7

8

9

8/3/2019 Ruggles

7/52

7


NOVEMBER 4, 2011

nanograms per milliliter. His dose is at 89 -- his serum

levels are 89.6, but he has none of the side effects that

hes previously reported on higher doses.

Since June of 2009, Mr. Ruggles has had a

full Level 4 pass, which allows him to have unsupervised

access to certain areas of the hospital for five to six

areas daily -- sorry -- for five to six hours daily. And

with the current privilege level, he participates in a

number of staff supervised community trips and multiple

grounds passes in his own custody. He attends a range of

psychotherapy groups. He attends supportive psychotherapy

with -- which is one-to-one therapy with Dr. Winkel, which

has been increased to 30 minutes weekly. He is in a group

therapy called the Forensics Group, which is 45 minutes

weekly. And Dr. Winkel, who is also the therapist for

that group, notes that Mr. Ruggles has made progress in

linking his depression, his alcohol use, and his paranoia

at the time of the crime and to think about how theyve

contributed to the crime. Mr. Ruggles goes to a substance

group called Sobriety Skills in which he has also

discussed the role that alcohol played in his lifestyle


HAMDEN, CT (800) 262-4102

1

2

3

45

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

6

7

8

9

8/3/2019 Ruggles

8/52

8


NOVEMBER 4, 2011

prior to the crime. And he attends a number of

recreational groups, including band, computer skills, has

been in walking and bowling groups. And I note that the

walking and recreational groups are also part of the

integrated treatment plan to manage some of his medical

illnesses, which Ill talk about as I said in one moment.

He works in the greenhouse twice a week

and he attends a self-esteem group at River Valley

Services, which is one of the community treatment options

that are being recommended as part of his TL. And he --

once a month he attends the Gilead Social Group.

Mr. Ruggles is uniformly described as

behaving appropriately, as engaging in the groups and the

activities, and making good use of his passes. He is

described by -- has been described by most members of his

team as a model patient.

I mentioned that he had a number of

medical illnesses. These are unchanged since the last

time that you saw him, but I note that he has

hypothyroidism, for which hes being treated with

Synthroid; hypertension and hyperlipidemia, for which hes


HAMDEN, CT (800) 262-4102

1

2

3

45

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

6

7

8

9

8/3/2019 Ruggles

9/52

9


NOVEMBER 4, 2011

being treated with Zocor, Avalide, Metoprolol, Vasotec,

and is on a low salt diet. He is -- hes seen by a

cardiologist once a year and his medical conditions are

stable.

On a formal exam, I found Mr. Ruggles to

be pleasant and cooperative, with appropriate eye contact.

His speech was quiet, of normal rate and normal tonal

variations. He told me that his mood was good and I

didnt see any signs of depression or elation. He told me

his appetite was fine and that between the walking group

and the attention that hes trying to pay to his diet,

that hes lost a little bit of weight over the course of

the year, which was in fact a medical goal. His sleep was

adequate. I did not find any evidence that he suffered

from any abnormal beliefs or that he had any overvalued

persecutory ideas. I didnt find any evidence of

delusions, and in particular I didnt find that he had

worked for the U.S. Government as a government agent. He

denied any visual or auditory hallucinations, and I didnt

see him responding to internal stimuli. I didnt find any

signs that he suffered from suicidal or homicidal


HAMDEN, CT (800) 262-4102

1

2

3

45

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

6

7

8

9

8/3/2019 Ruggles

10/52

10


NOVEMBER 4, 2011

ideation. His formal cognitive exam was unremarkable but

for some slight difficulty interpreting abstract proverbs.

With regard to his insight, so as has been

noted on previous PSRB hearings, Mr. Ruggles insight

around his mental illness and his need for medication

remain a focus of his treatment. He acknowledges that he

was paranoid at the time of the crime and that he felt at

the time that there were certain groups of individuals who

were out to harm him, including the government and the

police. He described himself as having been frightened

and paranoid. However, he refuses to believe that he has

a mental illness. Indeed in some of his writings he notes

that he does not believe that mental illness exists at

all. And he told me that it was not the antipsychotic

medication that hes on, but rather his spiritual beliefs

that have been -- and time which have been most helpful in

contributing to his clinical progress.

Having said that in describing his lack of

insight, Mr. Ruggles is willing to take medication as long

as the clinical team recommends it and as long as it is

part of the PSRBs recommendations for him. He stated


HAMDEN, CT (800) 262-4102

1

2

3

45

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

6

7

8

9

8/3/2019 Ruggles

11/52

11


NOVEMBER 4, 2011

that he intends to follow the PSRBs recommendations and

noted spontaneously that he would never let such an event

happen again as he would not carry weapons again and that

he has no desire to drink and has not had cravings in the

time that hes been at CVH.

I asked him whether he thought that the

crime was part of his being -- was part of him being part

of a conspiracy or whether he was the target of a

conspiracy, and he told me that he didnt like thinking

about that period in his life and that it had been a

particularly difficult time for him.

So in my opinion, I think that the best

risk management of Mr. Ruggles requires both the continued

treatment of his schizophrenia and his history of alcohol

abuse, it requires continual monitoring by mental health

staff of his mental state, and the provision of an

appropriately structured environment. And Mr. Ruggles has

acknowledged that the PSRBs recommendations in this are

key to his compliance.

As his case is currently being managed and

as he is currently presenting, I do not think that Mr.


HAMDEN, CT (800) 262-4102

1

2

3

45

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

6

7

8

9

8/3/2019 Ruggles

12/52

12


NOVEMBER 4, 2011

Ruggles represents a danger to himself or other people.

And its the basis of that clinical stability that, as you

know, there has been a proposed temporary leave

application submitted to the PSRB.

The purpose of the temporary leave

application is to provide for treatment in the community

at two facilities, River Valley Services and Gilead

Rehabilitation Center in Middletown. Those are two

facilities where hes already currently receiving

treatment. The application provides for treatment in

these two facilities for up to four days a week and up to

six hours a day. His TL supervisor, Wendy Blakely is not

here to day. In her place, as we mentioned, we have

Patricia Burke from Gilead, who is the program director

there, and we have a representative from River Valley

Services, Colleen Milt (phonetic) -- is she -- Im sorry,

I dont think that shes here --

A VOICE: (Indiscernible) -- no, Im here

--

DR. PRABHU: Sorry. Hello. The groups

recommended for Mr. Ruggles at River Valley Services


HAMDEN, CT (800) 262-4102

1

2

3

45

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

6

7

8

9

8/3/2019 Ruggles

13/52

13


NOVEMBER 4, 2011

include Symptom Management group and continuation of his

self-esteem group. He will also be attending other

recovery groups as its deemed clinically appropriate as

his attendance there and his engagement there is observed.

He will walk himself unescorted to the facility which is

located on CVHs campus. At the second facility, Gilead

Community Services, he will be transported by a Gilead

van, which is staff supervised, and he will be attending

an outpatient group, a therapeutic group, and then

engaging in the clubhouses daily activities, which

include a community meeting, tasks for the day, lunch and

cleanup. Both facilities are supervised and Mr. Ruggles

will be required to check in with unit staff over the

course of the day. I will note that he will remain on his

overnights at Dutcher. He will have his medications

administered by CVH staff and he will remain in one-to-one

therapy with Dr. Winkel.

Part 2 of the plan will involve -- has

involved Mr. Ruggles being placed on the waiting list for

the Gilead Apartment Housing Program, which is a 24-hour

supervised boarding type house where six other clients


HAMDEN, CT (800) 262-4102

1

2

3

45

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

6

7

8

9

8/3/2019 Ruggles

14/52

14


NOVEMBER 4, 2011

would be present. There is a staff office present in the

same building. He would attend the Gilead Clubhouse for

programming or at River Valley Services. And specific

clinical services will be considered as Mr. Ruggles

progresses through Part 1 of the TL if it is approved by

the Board.

So in conclusion, as Ive noted, Mr.

Ruggles has not experienced any psychotic decompensation

or clinical deterioration since his last PSRB hearing.

Hes remained on the same antipsychotic medication. He

continues to be in therapy and groups. He is reported to

be and the staff notes him to be compliant with his

medications, and this is confirmed by his serum blood

levels. His insight about his illness remains partial,

but he has been consistent in expressing a willingness to

comply with the clinical teams and the PSRBs

recommendations for him. Thank you.

ACTING CHAIRMAN KIRSCHNER: Any other

testimony or just questions and answers? Attorney Radler.

MR. RADLER: I have no questions.

MS. MABBETT: I have a few, thank you.


HAMDEN, CT (800) 262-4102

1

2

3

45

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

6

7

8

9

8/3/2019 Ruggles

15/52

15


NOVEMBER 4, 2011

Youve indicated with Mr. Ruggles that theres been no

further motions that have been filed that youre aware of

with the courts or any type of government facility?

DR. PRABHU: Yes.

MS. MABBETT: Okay. And the last motion

that youre aware of that has been filed, when was that?

DR. PRABHU: That was in January of 2010.

MS. MABBETT: Okay. And there was an

issue I believe that was brought to the Board at that

time, correct?

DR. PRABHU: Yes.

MS. MABBETT: Okay. And -- now Mr.

Ruggles was very good about keeping a journal. Do you

know if he still keeps any type of journal?

DR. PRABHU: I did not ask Mr. Ruggles

specifically about whether he had a journal. Im not sure

if any other members of his clinical team are aware of

whether he had one and continues to keep one. Im sorry,

I dont know the answer to that, but I can find out and

let the Board know.

MS. MABBETT: Okay. And the other thing


HAMDEN, CT (800) 262-4102

1

2

3

45

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

6

7

8

9

8/3/2019 Ruggles

16/52

16


NOVEMBER 4, 2011

is my understanding is that he has computer access. Can

you tell me is it monitored in any way whatsoever

DR. PRABHU: You mean currently or in the

proposed TL?

MS. MABBETT: Currently and in the

proposed.

DR. PRABHU: So he -- as part of his

computer club he does have computer access. It is

supervised in the sense that Mr. Ruggles cannot get on to

the computers and roam the internet freely without staff

supervision. There are the usual CVH blocks which limit

websites to which hes accessed. And printouts are picked

up and seen by the staff that are there. He doesnt have

one-to-one supervision during the computer club, but

theres always staff present in the room when people are

in use of the computers is my understanding.

MS. MABBETT: Okay. So if theres any

sites that are out there that are sites that violates or

sites that deal with any type of weapons or guns or

anything like that, would CVH be made aware of that or is

that one of the blocks?


HAMDEN, CT (800) 262-4102

1

2

3

45

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

6

7

8

9

8/3/2019 Ruggles

17/52

17


NOVEMBER 4, 2011

DR. PRABHU: I -- my understanding is that

there are blocks built around dangerous sites as well as

sites of a sexual nature and content. I cant speak

specifically to the sites that are listed. My

understanding is that IT would be able to -- would always

have access to sites that are being reviewed, although I

dont know if in the same time -- in real time whether

theyd be able to provide feedback as to what any specific

person on any computer site is looking at. I may have to

defer to Dr. Lah or one of the other members of the

clinical team about that.

DR. MICHAEL LAH: Michael Lah, Supervising

Forensics Psychologist on the Whiting Forensic Division.

The blocks that the hospital has on our

computers do prevent patients from accessing sexually

oriented sites, which are easier to kind of identify. I

think depending on what the site was, things regarding

weapons and violence and stuff might be blocked, but it

also is possible that he could access some things that

might have -- you know, sort of regular retail things

about weapons or something. But staff do supervise.


HAMDEN, CT (800) 262-4102

1

2

3

45

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

6

7

8

9

8/3/2019 Ruggles

18/52

18


NOVEMBER 4, 2011

Theyre always in the area. So depending on what the site

was, it might be possible for him to have some kind of

access. But I dont think anything like groups that

propose, you know, violence or anti-government kinds of

things, I dont think hed be able to access things like

that.

And in the community setting, staff are --

or my understanding is that staff are always in the room

when the computers are being used and -- they may not

constantly be looking at what hes doing, but are always

there and able to kind of check now and then and see what

hes doing, how the computer was being used.

The hospital computers, we do have the

ability to print out a history of where -- the activity

where people went. So if there was a question about him

accessing something, the computer technology folks would

be able to access and print that out, the history, and be

able to tell what he was doing on the computer.

MS. MABBETT: And is that information --

if the PSRB Board asked for that information, for the

computer printouts of an individual, would you be -- I


HAMDEN, CT (800) 262-4102

1

2

3

45

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

6

7

8

9

8/3/2019 Ruggles

19/52

19


NOVEMBER 4, 2011

mean I dont know -- is it something that you would

provide to them?

DR. LAH: We -- whatever the Board

requests, wed provide if were able to.

MS. MABBETT: Okay. And then the

computers access at the other facilities are certainly --

do they do have any type of blocks or something like that?

MS. PATRICIA BURKE: This is Patty Burke

from Gilead Community Services, the rehab center where Mr.

Ruggles will be attending.

We do have blocks on our computer systems,

again its sexual in nature. There are not specific

blocks related to guns or any kind of violent websites.

However, having said that, we do routinely print out for

ourselves a review of internet sites that have been

accessed and we are available in the room when people are

on the computers.

MS. MABBETT: Okay. And again, with you,

if the PSRB asked for that information from your agency,

is that something that the PSRB Board would be able to

access without any type of court orders?


HAMDEN, CT (800) 262-4102

1

2

3

45

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

6

7

8

9

8/3/2019 Ruggles

20/52

20


NOVEMBER 4, 2011

MS. BURKE: I can ask our IT department to

put a -- set up a program on the computers that will give

the PSRB, if they required it, access to websites that

have been accessed.

MS. MABBETT: Thank you. When you were

talking about the Level 4 and the access that Mr. Ruggles

has out there on the grounds, has there been any type of

violations or times that he has not gone from one place to

the other?

DR. PRABHU: No. The clinical team has

reported that he has -- there have been no instances and

no violations with regard to his use of the passes.

MS. MABBETT: Okay. And the passes are he

would go from one facility to the next?

DR. PRABHU: So hed be able to walk

unescorted say to Merritt Hall or to the pavilion for

special events or to, for example, the greenhouse where he

might have -- where he -- where he works twice a week. And

he currently attends one group once a week already at

River Valley Services that hes able to escort himself

there and back.


HAMDEN, CT (800) 262-4102

1

2

3

45

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

6

7

8

9

8/3/2019 Ruggles

21/52

21


NOVEMBER 4, 2011

MS. MABBETT: Okay. And what type of time

frame are we looking at there? How long does it take him

to get to and from these? Fifteen minutes --

DR. PRABHU: Oh --

MS. MABBETT: -- an hour? I dont know

--

DR. PRABHU: Oh, less than that. I mean a

couple of minutes, five minutes.

MS. MABBETT: Okay. And then I know that

he started the services, the community visits to River

Valley -- to River Valley and out there into the

community. Could you tell us a little bit about this? I

mean hours per day, the places that he goes to, and what

type of activities take place?

DR. PRABHU: Im sorry, currently?

MS. MABBETT: Yes.

DR. PRABHU: So currently with regard to

River Valley Services, which is on, as I said, the campus

at CVH, he attends one weekly self-esteem group. He walks

himself there. He participates in the group. Apparently,

hes been invited to remain to socialize and to engage


HAMDEN, CT (800) 262-4102

1

2

3

45

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

6

7

8

9

8/3/2019 Ruggles

22/52

22


NOVEMBER 4, 2011

with the group a bit more, but hes always expressed an

anxiety and interest in getting back to the unit.

He attends events or recreational

activities at Gilead Clubhouse once a month, and those

activities have been, as I understand it, sort of whatever

the club has been doing on that particular day. You can

tell -- Ill let Gileads representative describe it in a

little bit more detail, but the activities that he

currently engages in which take him into the community are

always staff supervised. So he attends a weekly walk,

which is staff supervised, which may take him into say a

bookstore downtown, but again this is staff supervised,

and were talking a couple of -- a matter of hours, not

for the entire day, and certainly not unattended

currently. So in the proposed TL, he would be attending

Gilead two days a week for a maximum of six hours. He

would be picked up approximately around 9:00 am and would

return again by Gilead van by 3:00 p.m. And during that

time he would be present at the Gilead Clubhouse doing

activities with staff and with other clients and under

staff supervision.


HAMDEN, CT (800) 262-4102

1

2

3

45

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

6

7

8

9

8/3/2019 Ruggles

23/52

23


NOVEMBER 4, 2011

At River Valley Services he would again be

attending twice a day and be participating in structured

groups, again approximately leaving around 9:00 a.m. or in

time for the first group, and then returning no later than

3:00.

MS. MABBETT: Okay. And -- and when I was

reading the temporary leave, it indicated that for some of

the community service leaves he could bicycle, he could

walk. Are you just talking about those activities on CVH

grounds, because I was with the impression that he could

do this getting to the Gilead House?

DR. PRABHU: Well the plan as it is

currently -- the current plan is that in fact he will be

picked up by a Gilead van, sorry, which is staff driven,

and that the van will drop him off again. That is the

plan as it is currently formulated.

MS. BURKE: And he will remain with us at

the clubhouse.

DR. LAH: Michael Lah again. I think the

other factors -- there are two phases to the temporary

leave. And so during the first phase, which is just day


HAMDEN, CT (800) 262-4102

1

2

3

45

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

6

7

8

9

8/3/2019 Ruggles

24/52

24


NOVEMBER 4, 2011

treatment, he will be transported as Dr. Prabhu mentioned

and supervised by staff. During the second phase he will

have limited ability -- by bicycle and stuff to get from

his apartment, maybe to come to River Valley to attend

treatment activities. So he would have some ability to

kind of transport himself in that regard.

MS. MABBETT: So that down the road then

when he would have a bicycle --

DR. LAH: In the second phase when we

start the overnights in his apartment, supervised

apartment.

MS. MABBETT: Okay. Which we -- is that

-- because the one I was looking at was talking about

three months -- this plan is in place for three months.

Are you talking about perhaps he might be in his own

apartment after a three-month time span?

DR. LAH: The first phase is three months.

And then the day treatment, we would do that at least

three months depending on his clinical progress. Then we

would progress to the second phase, assuming that the

Board had approved that. And then the second phase is


HAMDEN, CT (800) 262-4102

1

2

3

45

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

6

7

8

9

8/3/2019 Ruggles

25/52

25


NOVEMBER 4, 2011

also estimated to at least be like a three-month period.

It could go longer and definitely depending on his

progress and our assessment of him.

MS. LACHANCE: Just for clarity, there is

no application for overnights at this time. This is only

an application for day. At the point that the hospital

should they come forward and ask for overnights, that

would be -- would require another hearing.

MS. MABBETT: Okay, thank you. That was

my concern.

DR. LAH: So --

DR. PRABHU: Yes, if I could just note the

understanding of the team is that Part 1, the piece before

the Board right now will be at least three months. And --

and the planning for Part 2 would be obviously dependent

on his clinical progress and his clinical experience, and

with further discussions with the team and the community

providers.

MS. MABBETT: Okay. And one of the other

questions Ive got is if in fact he should violate any of

these rules or he should be late, is somebody going to


HAMDEN, CT (800) 262-4102

1

2

3

45

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

6

7

8

9

8/3/2019 Ruggles

26/52

26


NOVEMBER 4, 2011

keep track of this, so that -- I believe that the Board

has that right to know when theres any violation, no

matter how minor -- are they going to be made aware of it,

or are we just going to say, oh, it was just a minor, he

was five minutes late?

DR. PRABHU: Well, I think it depends a

little bit on the form of the violation if there is one.

And in both cases both Gilead and River Valley Services

have indicated that they would both let the ward and the

sorry -- Dutcher, as well as his TL supervisor know. So

both will be keeping track in various ways. I assume on

the ward there will be a note written. And in the case of

the TL supervisor, we can ask her to keep a separate

record if that would be useful to the Board of any

violations or deviations from the plan.

MS. MABBETT: And that would be something

all kept in one or two different places so that we

wouldnt have to go to several different areas to try to

locate it?

DR. PRABHU: Yes, I would think that would

be --


HAMDEN, CT (800) 262-4102

1

2

3

45

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

6

7

8

9

8/3/2019 Ruggles

27/52

27


NOVEMBER 4, 2011

MS. MABBETT: Like a log --

DR. PRABHU: -- simple to record in a log

if needed.

MS. MABBETT: And you also indicated in

the temporary leave that he could go pretty much anyplace

in the State of Connecticut as long as it was supervised

by staff?

DR. PRABHU: There is a clear caveat hes

not able to return to the Town of Bethel or the location

of the crime. And the -- any -- any trips outside of the

community treatment centers would be staff supervised.

MS. MABBETT: But -- and youre aware that

the location of the crime wasnt necessarily where it took

place, it was where the police officer actually pulled him

over?

DR. PRABHU: Yes.

MS. MABBETT: The crime was ongoing with

his delusional state. I mean it was -- it could have been

any police officer, it could have been any area, it could

have been any government facility that this could have

taken -- it could have taken place. So why are you just


HAMDEN, CT (800) 262-4102

1

2

3

45

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

6

7

8

9

8/3/2019 Ruggles

28/52

28


NOVEMBER 4, 2011

limiting it to that one place, Mansfield Street in Bethel,

Connecticut? Shouldnt it also include government

buildings, the Governors mansion, because the Governor

was at stake at some point in time, and any other

government facilities thats out there?

DR. PRABHU: Well this has been the

restriction on Mr. Ruggles up until this point, and of

course he has been present in residing at CVH. If the

Board thinks that it would be appropriate to limit -- to

further limit the areas in which -- to which he might be

able to travel, then certainly Im sure that the team and

Mr. Ruggles would comply with that.

Mr. Ruggles -- the community -- the types

of community trips that Im aware of that Gilead and/or

CVH and/or River Valley Services provide are largely

recreational, to bookstores, to parks. They dont involve

trips to government facilities, trips to courts. So, I --

my understanding of the nature of the trips that theyve

conducted so far, I dont think would put him at risk of

visiting the types of facilities that you might have

concerns about. Nor might I add has Mr. Ruggles


HAMDEN, CT (800) 262-4102

1

2

3

45

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

6

7

8

9

8/3/2019 Ruggles

29/52

29


NOVEMBER 4, 2011

expressed any desire to visit any of the types of the

facilities that you are expressing concerns about.

MS. MABBETT: And also concerning police

officers, when hes on any of these community trips at all

has he come in contact with any police officers? And if

so, what has been his state?

DR. PRABHU: I have not seen any mention

in the records of Mr. Ruggles coming into any contact with

police officers. Im not sure if anybody else has any

further information about that.

I will note that there are of course

police officers and security on the grounds of CVH whose

presence Mr. Ruggles has noted and who are certainly

present there when he is walking on grounds. And I have

not heard Mr. Ruggles report any difficulties with them

and Ive not seen any reports in any of his records of any

altercations with them.

DR. LAH: As Dr. Prabhu mentioned there

are police officers on grounds that Mr. Ruggles has

interacted with and theres never been any problem.

Its hospital policy whenever -- if he was


HAMDEN, CT (800) 262-4102

1

2

3

45

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

6

7

8

9

8/3/2019 Ruggles

30/52

30


NOVEMBER 4, 2011

on a community trip and a police officer asked him his

name or any kind of contact like that, its our policy to

inform the Board. Whenever any acquittee has any

interaction with police officers. So regardless of the

reason, you know, if he was in the van and somebody else

rear-ended the van and a police officer asked him his

name, we would inform the Board that a police officer was

there for the accident and asked him his name and

interviewed him. So any contact that acquittees have with

the Board we inform -- or with the police, we inform the

Board.

MS. MABBETT: But isnt that pretty

important considering the fact that it was police officers

that were in danger here, it was just a matter of which

police officer he was going to end up shooting, and

unfortunately he shot --

DR. LAH: Yes --

MS. MABBETT: -- Michael Daubart --

DR. LAH: -- Im aware of that. But to

prevent him having access to that, means he would not be

able to go anywhere in the state because there are police


HAMDEN, CT (800) 262-4102

1

2

3

45

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

6

7

8

9

8/3/2019 Ruggles

31/52

31


NOVEMBER 4, 2011

officers everywhere in the state, in every town, in every

--

MS. MABBETT: But what Im saying is have

we watched his interaction with any police officers thats

been assertive with him at all and watched what he has

done because thats -- thats part of --

DR. LAH: Theres --

MS. MABBETT: -- his delusions?

DR. LAH: There have been no problems at

all with his interaction with the officers on grounds and

hes had no interaction with community police officers.

MS. MABBETT: Okay, thank you. And the

medication that hes required to take, will he take that

medication prior to the day leaves or when he returns?

When -- when exactly is that medication --

DR. PRABHU: Actually, he currently takes

it at night. And hell remain taking it at night.

MS. MABBETT: Okay. And if Mr. Ruggles on

one of these walks should disappear or not show up on

time, when exactly do you notify the authorities? I know

that you indicated in the temporary leave that you would


HAMDEN, CT (800) 262-4102

1

2

3

45

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

6

7

8

9

8/3/2019 Ruggles

32/52

32


NOVEMBER 4, 2011

notify CVH. But when are they required to notify the

authorities or what steps are taken after or if that

should happen?

DR. LAH: We have clear procedures for --

even with hospital staff supervised trips with patients if

a patient -- or an acquittee left the area. The first

call is to the police. They call 911 and inform the

police. The second call is to the hospital to the

hospital police. The third call is to the Dutcher nurse

supervisor, who would inform the treatment team. So 911

is the first call that staff would make immediately if he

walked away.

MS. MABBETT: What time frame are we

talking about?

DR. LAH: Minutes.

MS. MABBETT: So if he was to be at a

certain location within minutes and he wasnt there, then

that 911 call would take place?

DR. LAH: Oh. If he was supposed to leave

Dutcher and walked to the building on grounds to go to an

activity at River Valley Services, if he wasnt there


HAMDEN, CT (800) 262-4102

1

2

3

45

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

6

7

8

9

8/3/2019 Ruggles

33/52

33


NOVEMBER 4, 2011

within 10 minutes, theyre supposed to call the unit. We

would immediately notify our police, then staff. We would

search the grounds. And then after a period of time, the

procedure is our police if they couldnt find him, would

then do the teletype communication with statewide, with

all state and local police. So the response is pretty

quickly. Our policy is if somebody doesnt come back from

a grounds pass within five or ten minutes, we initiate the

escape procedure.

MS. MABBETT: Okay. In one of the -- we

had sent a letter back when -- and Im sure its in your

file someplace -- that there are certain individuals that

needed to be notified if Mr. Ruggles should disappear,

such as the police officers that were involved --

DR. LAH: Yes --

MS. MABBETT: -- the Governor --

DR. LAH: Yes --

MS. MABBETT: -- and all those people that

we felt could potentially be threatened as a result of

what he -- the shooting that had occurred --

DR. LAH: Right. Part of our procedure is


HAMDEN, CT (800) 262-4102

1

2

3

45

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

6

7

8

9

8/3/2019 Ruggles

34/52

34


NOVEMBER 4, 2011

also to immediately notify the Executive Director of the

Board. And then it would be the Boards responsibility to

inform the victims.

MS. MABBETT: And when you talk about

victims, would that be in compliance with the letter that

the State had previously sent to your facility? And --

and you may not have that --

DR. LAH: It would be in compliance with

the victims of his crime that the Board has on record.

MS. MABBETT: Okay.

DR. LAH: So if you had listed the

Governor, the Governor is not considered a victim of his

crime --

MS. MABBETT: No, hes not --

DR. LAH: -- so we -- they wouldnt -- I

wouldnt -- Ellen Lachance could answer that, but --

MS. MABBETT: Alright. And I would be

concerned about perhaps security at the Governors

facility or any government facility that might be -- in

Hartford or in the area to be notified.

MS. LACHANCE: You can rest assure that we


HAMDEN, CT (800) 262-4102

1

2

3

45

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

6

7

8

9

8/3/2019 Ruggles

35/52

35


NOVEMBER 4, 2011

will take no chances in terms of notifying as many people

as we think is appropriate in each individual case.

MS. MABBETT: Okay, thank you. And my

question to you --

MS. BURKE: Mmm-hmm --

MS. MABBETT: -- is what exactly will

happen at your facility?

MS. BURKE: Were a working clubhouse,

which means that individuals who attend our programming,

theres an expectation that they contribute to the working

of the clubhouse, whether that is working in the culinary

unit, which Mr. Ruggles has expressed an interest in,

writing a newsletter potentially, maintenance of the

building and the grounds, potentially career services when

thats deemed appropriate. So its relatively structured.

People can decline to participate obviously, but generally

we have about a 90 to 95 percent participation rate on a

daily basis.

MS. MABBETT: Okay. And then this

information of his participation is relayed back to CVH

then and documented?


HAMDEN, CT (800) 262-4102

1

2

3

45

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

6

7

8

9

8/3/2019 Ruggles

36/52

36


NOVEMBER 4, 2011

MS. BURKE: It can be, absolutely. Its

documented in our electronic medical record on a daily

basis.

MS. MABBETT: Okay. And then thats

something again too that the Board could have access to --

MS. BURKE: Absolutely --

MS. MABBETT: -- if need be?

MS. BURKE: Yeah.

MS. MABBETT: Okay. Okay, thank you.

Thank you.

ACTING CHAIRMAN KIRSCHNER: I just have

one question. I dont know who can answer it, but he

continues to deny that he has any type of mental illness

or need for psychiatric treatment, medication, or therapy,

but yet hes engaged in therapy. What is he working on in

therapy and whats he talking about?

DR. PRABHU: Dr. Winkel, who is both his

individual therapist and the, sorry, group therapist for

the Forensics Group, reports that he has -- much of the

discussion are about the events of the prior week, the

activities, his interactions with staff and/or other


HAMDEN, CT (800) 262-4102

1

2

3

45

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

6

7

8

9

8/3/2019 Ruggles

37/52

37


NOVEMBER 4, 2011

patients on the unit. But hes also volunteered

information about the crime, about his state of mind at

the crime, his understanding of how his depression and his

alcohol use and his paranoia, which is his term, had

contributed to the crime at the time. And hes also

spoken about how alcohol was a part of his lifestyle prior

to the crime and how he felt that -- hes described it in

terms of wishing to emulate other men in his peer group

and his regrets about how those things contributed to the

crime. He has spoken about having strong commitments to

maintaining sobriety. Hes indicated that he has no

desire to ever drink again, that hes not had cravings.

So these are the sorts of things that have come up in

individual as well as group therapy over the last two

years.

ACTING CHAIRMAN KIRSCHNER: So does he

attribute his paranoia and his depression to his alcohol

use?

DR. PRABHU: My understanding is that he

attributes it both more to his -- as he would describe it

to his spiritual problems, which is his understanding of


HAMDEN, CT (800) 262-4102

1

2

3

45

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

6

7

8

9

8/3/2019 Ruggles

38/52

38


NOVEMBER 4, 2011

his mental illness, and that his -- he was -- he had

difficulties with his faith and his spirituality, and

those were the reasons for his being unwell. He has been

consistent in, you know, not acknowledging that he has a

mental illness and attributing the paranoia for example to

the mental illness.

ACTING CHAIRMAN KIRSCHNER: So he can

acknowledge paranoia and depression, but doesnt classify

that as any type of mental illness?

DR. PRABHU: He attributes it to spiritual

problems rather than to a mental illness, yes.

ACTING CHAIRMAN KIRSCHNER: So to what

does he attribute his spiritual growth or change over the

course of his hospital stay in terms of how his

spirituality got corrected?

DR. PRABHU: In fact, we did discuss this

this week. He attributes it to time, to learning, and to

renewed commitment to his spiritual beliefs.

ACTING CHAIRMAN KIRSCHNER: Is he engaged

in any type of religious activities, spiritual --

DR. PRABHU: Its actually not listed as


HAMDEN, CT (800) 262-4102

1

2

3

45

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

6

7

8

9

8/3/2019 Ruggles

39/52

39


NOVEMBER 4, 2011

part of any of his activities. Im not aware that -- any

detail about some of the religious events that he may

partake in on campus or around holidays.

I would also note that he -- there was a

significant change in his participation in treatment

around 2001. You may recall that prior to 2001, he wasnt

engaged in therapy at all and he wasnt even attending the

PSRB hearings. However since then, he has been coming to

hearings and his engagement in therapy has increased from

what was my understanding a fairly cursory 15 minutes to a

now weekly 30 minutes. So although Mr. Ruggles has not --

continues to state that he does not think that he needs

therapy, he does come to the meetings, he has increased

his involvement, and I think that probably reflects his

growing comfort with his therapists and the treatment team

even if he doesnt recognize the mental illness for what

it is.

ACTING CHAIRMAN KIRSCHNER: Is there any

concern that this spirituality aspect is almost a form of

another delusional belief system as opposed to an actual

spiritual type of faith?


HAMDEN, CT (800) 262-4102

1

2

3

45

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

6

7

8

9

8/3/2019 Ruggles

40/52

40


NOVEMBER 4, 2011

DR. PRABHU: Right. So in the past when

he has psychiatrically decompensated, he has been more

grandiose and more overtly religious, or one might

actually use the term religiosity to describe the nature

and the flavor of his speech and his thought or his

organization. That has not been the case in the last two

years. There has been no evidence of religiosity or

grandiosity or of the kinds of disorganization that hes

seen in the past -- that weve seen in the past.

ACTING CHAIRMAN KIRSCHNER: Okay, thank

you. Miss Lachance.

MS. LACHANCE: Dr. Prabhu, two years ago

at his last Mandatory Review hearing, Dr. Buchanan had

testified about the mental status exam that he had

performed and he asked similar questions as you had

described you were asking. And at that point Dr. Buchanan

was testifying and he said that when he asked Mr. Ruggles

if he thought that there was a conspiracy against him and

if he currently believed the conspiracy theory that he had

believed at the time of the crime, and Mr. Ruggles stated

that he didnt know if it was a conspiracy, but thought it


HAMDEN, CT (800) 262-4102

1

2

3

45

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

6

7

8

9

8/3/2019 Ruggles

41/52

41


NOVEMBER 4, 2011

remained a possibility. So that was two years ago. And I

note that in your mental status exam you asked a very

similar question. And I recall that you said something

about -- or akin to his saying he doesnt like to dwell on

that. Did you push him on that question?

DR. PRABHU: I did, in particular because

I was familiar with Dr. Buchanans questions about it.

And Mr. Ruggles was more conclusive. He didnt leave open

the possibility that there might have been a conspiracy

against him. He simply said no and that he recognized

that he was troubled at the time and that there were other

things going on at the time. So he didnt even refer as

hes had in the past, however even though weakly to

believing that he was part of a conspiracy or a government

agent.

MS. LACHANCE: Is there anyone who can

give us information about how Mr. Ruggles has participated

or been engaged in the activities that hes participated

in at River Valley or Gilead up to this point? I know

its once a month, but can anyone characterize how he has

-- how his involvement has been?


HAMDEN, CT (800) 262-4102

1

2

3

45

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

6

7

8

9

8/3/2019 Ruggles

42/52

42


NOVEMBER 4, 2011

DR. PRABHU: Again, hes uniformly

described as polite, cooperative, he does what he needs to

do, he does what hes asked to do, he volunteers for jobs,

and he performs jobs also around the unit. He cannot be

described as the most expressive or voluble of the

patients in the groups, but he does engage the other

patients and has volunteered observations about their

treatment and has absorbed feedback from other patients

about his own engagement for example in Forensics group

without any difficulty.

MS. LACHANCE: In 2006 Dr. Zeman conducted

an evaluation at the request of Attorney Mabbett. And in

part that evaluation noted the importance of monitoring

Mr. Ruggles mental state, particularly in light of his

refusal to believe he has a psychiatric illness and also

because he maintains a -- maintained then at least a

belief that he did not require psychiatric medication.

For the record does he still believe, do you know, that he

doesnt require psychiatric medication?

DR. PRABHU: That is his belief, yes.

MS. LACHANCE: And -- so in light of his


HAMDEN, CT (800) 262-4102

1

2

3

45

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

6

7

8

9

8/3/2019 Ruggles

43/52

43


NOVEMBER 4, 2011

decompensation in June of 2009 and the comments that Dr.

Zeman made about the importance of monitoring his mental

status, is that something that you would concur would be

important as well as he transitions?

DR. PRABHU: Yes, I would. And in fact, I

note that in addition to the new activities that he will

be doing, he will maintain his relationship and his

therapeutic therapy with Dr. Winkel, whos had a long time

observing the patient, he will still be having his

overnights -- hell still be returning to the unit every

night. So again, hell be working with people who have

observed him for a long period of time. And both the

staff at Gilead and River Valley Services have described

themselves as being another set of eyes on the patient.

And -- so hes never going to have an extended period of

time where he is not being supervised. So there will be

both structure and eyes on the patient at all times.

MS. LACHANCE: In the community who will

be the primary responsible party for monitoring his mental

status?

DR. PRABHU: So -- you mean does he --


HAMDEN, CT (800) 262-4102

1

2

3

45

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

6

7

8

9

8/3/2019 Ruggles

44/52

44


NOVEMBER 4, 2011

will he be having a separate supervisor --

MS. LACHANCE: No, I meant --

DR. PRABHU: A clinician?

MS. LACHANCE: Yes. I dont mean

necessarily to conduct mental status exams in the formal

way that you do. What I meant is there one party in

particular whose responsibility is maybe more so than

others in terms of monitoring his mental state or checking

with other people who he has interaction with while in the

community? Is there one person whos responsible for

that?

DR. PRABHU: His TL supervisor, Wendy

Blakely has described her role to me as realizing that her

job is to keep an eye on him and to elicit feedback from

other people who have interactions with him about his

mental status.

MS. LACHANCE: And what is her clinical

background?

COURT REPORTER: One moment please.

(pause - tape change)

DR. PRABHU: Im sorry. May I go ahead?


HAMDEN, CT (800) 262-4102

1

2

3

45

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

6

7

8

9

8/3/2019 Ruggles

45/52

45


NOVEMBER 4, 2011

Thank you. She is a mental health worker -- Ive just

been informed by Patty Burke that she has almost completed

her Masters Degree in social work. Yes, I knew that she

was a social worker. And shes had about 12 years of

experience in -- at least 12 years of experience in

working with mentally ill clients in the community.

MS. LACHANCE: From a previous hearing we

heard testimony that River Valley Services at that time,

which is probably going back two years ago, did not have a

forensic team or a forensic psychiatrist on their team. Do

you know if thats still accurate?

DR. PRABHU: I dont, but I --

A VOICE: That is accurate.

DR. PRABHU: It is accurate according to

Colleen who is here from River Valley.

MS. LACHANCE: Thank you.

ACTING CHAIRMAN KIRSCHNER: Thank you. Do

we have a statement from --

MR. MICHAEL DAUBART: How do you do,

Board. My name is Michael Daubart. Im one of the

victims of this crime as you know. I strongly oppose any


HAMDEN, CT (800) 262-4102

1

2

3

45

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

6

7

8

9

8/3/2019 Ruggles

46/52

46


NOVEMBER 4, 2011

reducing or reduction in Mr. Ruggles level.

I just want to go back and remind the

Board of what happened here. And as I sit here throughout

the years listening to the different hearings, we kind of

forget what actually went on and what the mental state of

this person was and what he said back then and what hes

saying today. So if I can just take a moment and remind

us what happened.

Mr. Ruggles was -- planned this assault

and assassination of me for over three months. He had

followed me and kept a very detailed journal of all of the

activities that went on in our town. Mr. Ruggles did not

have a drinking problem at that time. We had run into Mr.

Ruggles numerous times. I started out as a 21-year-old

rookie police officer. I asked Mr. Ruggles one day to

stop handing out literature from the front of the post

office in violation of post office regulations. He felt

he could run for governor and that the government was now

being run by communist agents and he must take over. I

did a simple act and just asked him to remove himself from

those stairs. That put me on his hit list as the No. 1


HAMDEN, CT (800) 262-4102

1

2

3

45

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

6

7

8

9

8/3/2019 Ruggles

47/52

47


NOVEMBER 4, 2011

person.

Mr. Ruggles followed me around,

unbeknownst to me, and I was a pretty sharp police

officer, I thought. He sat outside my house in the woods.

He noted what room I was in. He noted what time I came

and went. He knew what car I drove. Again, we go back to

his journal. He wrote detailed entries into that journal.

How did this Board not review his journal at this day is

beyond me. He still does that. In those journal entries

he writes how he had put a bomb in my car, how he walked

up behind me as I stood in line at a grocery store and put

a 45 caliber gun in my back, and if I had turned around,

he had to disable me and cripple me before he shot me in

the head. He wrote about other officers, David

Bruckinthal (phonetic), Charles Hubb (phonetic). There

was a group of officers that had stopped him at minor

times just asking him to remove himself from sidewalks

that he was handing out -- or on motor vehicles stops.

They became on his hit list. He had a large hit list.

As he progressed down the scale and became

more and more paranoid, all of these things started to


HAMDEN, CT (800) 262-4102

1

2

3

45

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

6

7

8

9

8/3/2019 Ruggles

48/52

48


NOVEMBER 4, 2011

come to head. He planned like I said for three months

when he was going to assassinate me, how he was going to

tap the back of my police car, causing me to chase him.

He was not going to stop. He was going to finally pull

over in front of a day care center so that when he got out

of the vehicle, I was looking at 60 kids in the front of a

day care center as I drew my weapon. If I missed, I was

probably going to hit one of the little kids. If he

missed, he had set it up very meticulously that behind my

backdrop was a sand bank, a sand bank. So his misfire

would hit a sand bank and mine would hit a group of kids.

His car was booby trapped. So not only was he going to

take my life, but any of the officers that came afterwards

if he was killed or not, were also going to be maimed.

You talk about location. He marked his location. We had

spent months where he followed us around and set that up.

And his interaction with police officers, it could have

been any of us. He wrote in his journal how officers had

-- if the officer attempted to stop him, he must get out

and shoot that officer.

I need this Board to be able to say these


HAMDEN, CT (800) 262-4102

1

2

3

45

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

6

7

8

9

8/3/2019 Ruggles

49/52

49


NOVEMBER 4, 2011

things are corrected, this gentleman will not do that

again. He still feels that his actions are okay. He

doesnt accept what he has done. One of the critical

elements we have in parole is that he accepts his crime. I

dont hear that coming from him. You talk about alcohol

was a problem. It wasnt when his crime was committed.

You talk about medication. He refuses to take medications

most of the time if you were not here. You have to

guarantee us that when hes in the community, hes going

to take it. Hes already telling you hes not going to do

that. You mention about not having any control or review

of a journal entry. Ive already gone over that. The

journals are critical to know what he is really thinking

in his mind.

His computer access, it appalls me that

you dont have detailed knowledge of where this man is

going. He spent hours in the library researching bombs

and weapons and mass destruction and how to set all of

these things up, hours upon hours. And you dont have one

list of where hes gone in the last six months. And

youre telling me that it might be time to reduce him?


HAMDEN, CT (800) 262-4102

1

2

3

45

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

6

7

8

9

8/3/2019 Ruggles

50/52

50


NOVEMBER 4, 2011

I find that hes still a very -- a very

large threat to society, that releasing him into society

without these precautions in place is almost guaranteeing

that he is going to slip back and run into the same

problems. And this time hes going to kill somebody.

He stood above me with a shotgun. He shot

me the first time, disabling my arm. He wrote in his

journal how he had to do that. That I had a bad habit of

unzipping my vest as I was pulling into a dinner break.

And he knew that. He used that against me to disable my

arm. He shot me the second time square in the chest,

knocking me back. He shot me a third time, to ensure I

was going to die. He put the gun to my head for the

fourth time. And by the grace of God another officer

showed up and he had to take it off of my head and shoot

at that officer. I dont know how I survived that day.

But I ask the Board if you can guarantee thats not going

to happen, then you can release him. But if you cant

guarantee that that is not going to happen again, it is

your duty to keep him under strict supervision and locked

up. Thats all.


HAMDEN, CT (800) 262-4102

1

2

3

45

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

6

7

8

9

8/3/2019 Ruggles

51/52

51


NOVEMBER 4, 2011

MS. LACHANCE: Thank you.

ACTING CHAIRMAN KIRSCHNER: Thank you.

MR. DAUBART: Thank you.

ACTING CHAIRMAN KIRSCHNER: If there are

no further questions or matters to be brought before the

Board, then this hearing is closed.

(Whereupon, the hearing adjourned at 11:25

a.m.)


HAMDEN, CT (800) 262-4102

1

2

3

45

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

6

7

8

9

8/3/2019 Ruggles

52/52

52


NOVEMBER 4, 2011

INDEX OF WITNESSES

PAGE

DR. MAYA PRABHU

Direct Testimony 3

Examination by Ms. Mabbett 12

Examination by Acting Chairman Kirschner 31

Examination by Ms. Lachance 35

DR. MICHAEL LAH


PATRICIA BURKE


1

2

3

45

1

2

34

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

1415

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

ruggles

Documents