A psychiatric hospital worker in Michigan has filed a lawsuit alleging he was traumatized during a harrowing active-shooter drill in which cops — unaware he was just pretending to be an intruder — cuffed and held him at gunpoint.
Brandon Woodruff, 32, a laborer at the state-run Hawthorn Center for children in Northville Township, said his supervisor asked him to participate in the Dec. 21, 2022, drill, the Detroit Free Press reported.
The worker, who is black, said he and a white colleague were told to walk around unarmed to make sure everyone followed procedures, though many at the center — and even police — didn’t know about the unannounced drill.
Woodruff’s attorneys said only supervisors were informed in advance — and that they were instructed not to tell staff and the roughly 50 children.
His supervisor and safety coordinator, Derek Leppek, told him and the white colleague to pretend to be intruders during the drill, according to WDIV.
Hospital director Victoria Petti approved Leppek’s instruction, the outlet reported.
During the drill, an announcement blared over the public address system that two active shooters, one white and one black, with AR-15 assault rifles were in the building, according to the lawsuit. But Woodruff did not know people were unaware it was a drill before he and the colleague were ordered by cops to get down.
“I’m hearing yelling, ‘Get down!’ … and I’m like I don’t know what the hell’s happening,” Woodruff told the Free Press. “The police is here. Why are they here?”
He said he followed orders and lay down with his hands stretched out before calling his pregnant wife on his Apple Watch and telling her to record the conversation.
“I’m still trying to figure out what’s going on,” Woodruff told the outlet about the frantic moments.
“Woodruff did his best to comply with the anxious, sometimes conflicting orders from the police officers, getting down on the ground, then moving slowly towards them with his hands raised, and finally lifting his shirt and turning around several times to show that he was not armed,” the lawsuit states, WDIV reported.
He “heard the safeties come off the police officers’ weapons. Mr. Woodruff was scared for his life,” the lawsuit says.
People began calling 911 and others texted loved ones, thinking their lives were in danger.
One woman whispered to a 911 dispatcher, “Are the police here? Please, please, please help me,” according to the Free Press.
The dispatcher urged the woman to remain calm and said he was there with her.
“I’m so scared,” she whispered back.
Woodruff, who was cuffed behind his back, was detained for at least 30 minutes while police figured out what was going on and finally determined the situation was a drill.
In a statement, Northville Township police said they responded to the “surprise drill.” Northville, Livonia and state police also responded.
Heavily armed police in tactical gear were initially unaware the situation was a drill, according to 911 calls and body camera footage obtained by the Free Press. After the exercise, Petti sent an email to the staff.
“This morning an active intruder alert was announced on the overhead system. Although this was a drill it was not announced as such. Understandably, many in the building became frightened and some contacted 911. A tactical team responded to these calls and arrived armed and in full gear,” she wrote, according to the lawsuit.
“I want to convey how deeply sorry I am that this occurred and for the stress it’s caused. I spoke with many of you today and hope to reach others in the next few days. I know this has touched you all in different ways,” she added.
Woodruff told the newspaper he was afraid to say no to his supervisor because he needs the job and benefits to support his family and baby, who was born in February. But he said he turned down Leppek’s request that he carry an object while walking around because it sounded unusual.
Woodruff said the ordeal has left him traumatized.
“It’s really a struggle for me to come there every day,” he told the Free Press, adding that he returned to work the next day but left early because he felt uncomfortable.
Woodruff said he’s only received a “half-assed” apology from his supervisor, adding that counseling he was provided wasn’t useful.
He has suffered “anxiety, fear, depression and even suicidal ideation in the days, weeks and months since this incident,” according to his lawyer.
Woodruff told the outlet his lawyer is helping to get him mental health treatment after his request was denied.
The Michigan Health Department, which owns the psychiatric hospital, issued a statement saying it understood that “patients, staff and community were affected by the incident in December,” according to the Free Press.
“The Joint Commission requires the state psychiatric hospitals conduct a hazard vulnerability analysis at least every two years to identify potential emergencies, including active shooter drills,” it said.
“MDHHS is working with township law enforcement and the Michigan State Police on an improved active intruder training and drill process as part of updating its emergency operations policy,” the Health Department added.
Woodruff’s filing follows two class-action lawsuits filed by several other employees against the state Health Department in connection with the incident. They name four officials at the center.
Woodruff’s lawyer, Robin Wagner, could not immediately be reached by The Post on Friday.
