BELLINGHAM, Wash. — Officials with Western Washington University (WWU) issued a statement the morning of Tuesday, October 15th, saying that the WWU Dean of Libraries had been placed on administrative leave after being arrested outside a library building on Monday, October 14th.
At 4:51 PM yesterday, University Police Department officers were called to respond to suspicious activity outside Haggard Hall. After arriving on the scene, UPD officers questioned the two individuals, both adult men. After further review of the situation and after consulting with counterparts at the Bellingham Police Department, UPD officers arrested one of the individuals, identified in the police report as John Danneker who is employed at WWU as Dean of Libraries, on charges of “communication with a minor for immoral purposes,” a gross misdemeanor in Washington state. The second individual was the reporting party, and is unaffiliated with Western Washington University.
Danneker has been removed as Dean of Libraries. He is placed on administrative leave pending completion of the University’s investigation, which will be done in conjunction with local law enforcement.
– Western Washington University (October 15, 2024)
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Whatcom County Jail records indicate Danneker, age 48, was booked by Bellingham Police shortly after 7pm on Monday. As of Tuesday, the record shows he was charged with gross misdemeanor and felony charges of communication with a minor for immoral purposes.
Whatcom County Superior Court records show Danneker is scheduled to make a preliminary court appearance on Tuesday.
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