Port Townsend High School teacher accused of burglary, threatening to kill principal

PORT TOWNSEND, Wash -- A Port Townsend High School teacher was arrested on Friday afternoon, after making death threats against the school's principal and disrupting students, police said.

School officials said 52-year-old James Miller was placed on leave earlier this year.

He was barred from the campus on February 4, after appearing to have a mental health episode.

Police said Miller was put in contact with health professionals.

On Friday morning, school officials said Miller participated in an off-campus meeting in downtown Port Townsend.

Others in attendance say he became disruptive, then threatened to kill the school's principal, Carrie Ehrhardt, and left the restaurant.

A few hours later, officers learned that Miller had driven to the high school and started removing items from the wall of his old classroom while students were inside.

According to students, Miller was talking on his cell phone, then began to tell them personal details of his life and ask them if he had been missed.

Students in nearby classrooms said they also heard Miller shouting profanity.

The school's resource officer arrived a few minutes later and detained Miller.

He was booked into the Jefferson County Jail on felony harassment and second-degree burglary charges.