[Baltimore Sun] About a dozen threats against Harford public schools investigated in the last week, sheriff says, including three on Wednesday
Read Time:1 Minute, 45 Second
The Harford Sheriff’s Office has investigated about a dozen threats made by students in the county’s public schools in the last week, according to a Wednesday news release, and Sheriff Jeffrey Gahler says he is frustrated about state laws that prohibit police from informing the public about charges.
“In accordance with Maryland law, we are not able to release to the public or the school the name of the student charged with this crime,” the news release says. “We do our best to keep you informed within the confines of juvenile privacy laws and will continue to do our best. We ask you to help us.”
According to state law, law enforcement may only inform a school system of charges brought against a student if the alleged offense falls within the scope of a number of “reportable offenses.” Threats of mass violence are not deemed reportable offenses.
According to the sheriff, a threat against a Harford school was posted on social media early Wednesday morning by a student. The 2:20 a.m. post on Snapchat said, “shooting up the school, this is a threat,” according to the sheriff’s news release.
An investigation led deputies to the home of a local high school student who was suspected of creating the post. “Once on scene, the evidence became clear that the juvenile had in fact posted the threat,” the release stated.
The release noted that the student was charged with making threats to commit an act of mass violence, but did not state what school was involved.
According to the sheriff office’s public information officer, Cristie Hopkins, the threat was one of three to be made against Harford schools on Wednesday. The release noted that in the last week, deputies investigated 11 threats of violence against Harford schools.
Hopkins said that an undisclosed number of the threats made last week named Edgewood and Joppatowne high schools.
“We do not take these threats lightly,” the sheriff’s release read. “Each one is quickly investigated to determine the validity and ensure students are safe in school.”
Happy
0 %
Sad
0 %
Excited
0 %
Sleepy
0 %
Angry
0 %
Surprise
0 %
0
0