WSU Man’s Eviction Was Overdue, Neighbors Say School Exempted Putnam From Married-Only Rule

Washington State University officials had cause to evict rocket buff Hugh Putnam from university housing last September but did nothing until a stockpile of explosive materials was found last week in his apartment.

Housing officials confirmed Friday that Putnam, by living in the Nez Perce complex with his girlfriend and daughter, was violating a policy against unmarried people living in family housing. Neighbors, who themselves had to provide marriage certificates so they could live in the complex, are crying foul and say the school’s uneven enforcement ultimately jeopardized their safety.

“It was our personal safety and our physical safety that was at risk,” said one neighbor, “and it could have been prevented if officials had followed through with university regulations.”

“If this apartment were leveled (in a blast) and we were dead at this point, how would the university explain making an exception for him living with this woman?” said another neighbor.

The neighbors asked not to be identified for fear that Putnam, who they said showed a volatile temper, might retaliate.

WSU housing manager Jerry Kruse acknowledged housing officials require marriage certificates of couples living in family housing, but said he made an exception to the policy because Putnam was caring for a 3-year-old child. The policy has since been changed so that, as of July 1, single parents will be allowed to have another adult living with them to help with child care.

Acting on a tip, university police found more than 250 chemicals, combustibles and materials used to make incendiary devices when they visited his apartment with a search warrant March 31.

WSU police said the chemicals were enough to blow up the 96-unit complex on the northeast side of the campus.

Putnam, a 38-year-old chemistry major from East Wenatchee, pleaded not guilty Friday in Whitman County Superior Court to violating the state explosive act, a Class C felony. He is being held on $10,000 bail pending a May 15 trial.

University officials have already evicted him and placed him on suspension pending conduct proceedings. His daughter was placed with Child Protective Services on Wednesday and his girlfriend, Dorothy Wiedel, is staying in a Colfax motel.

Putnam Thursday insisted his apartment was safe, that he only wanted to make rockets and that the chemicals were legal.

But Ron Shirley, chief deputy prosecutor, said the law states that having such materials with the intent to make an explosive device like a rocket is still illegal.

And his neighbors aren’t buying Putnam’s claim of keeping a safe home.

One of Putnam’s neighbors was particularly concerned about the five rifles and a homemade “zip gun” found in the apartment, having already worried about what would happen if he should be armed during one of his explosive arguments.

She said Putnam and Wiedel would have profane shouting matches that were so loud and abusive that neighbors complained to housing officials.

A university housing employee who asked not to be named confirmed that several neighbors complained of the couple fighting.

“I got complaints from all over Nez Perce since last September, and I forwarded them to Jerry Kruse,” said the worker.

The worker also said university officials have in the past held a very hard line against unmarried students living in family housing.

“They’ve given people ultimatums in the past and they’ve gone out and gotten married,” the worker said.

Kruse said he has made other exceptions besides the one in Putnam’s case, but he declined to estimate how many.