NORTH VERNON — North Vernon Police Department is reporting officers have investigated three school-related threats in the last week.
The incidents were:
Sept 10: A North Vernon school resource officer was told a sixth grader made a vague broad threat to the school system on social media, referring to prior school shootings.
Sept. 10: A North Vernon school resource officer was told a freshman made a specific threat to two other students while in a classroom. This threat did not involve any of the other students or staff. The student was arrested and removed from the school.
Sept. 16: A North Vernon school resource officer was told that an 11th grader announced a vague broad threat over heard by other students while at the school. The student was arrested and removed from the school.
In all three incidents, each student was charged with Level 5 felony intimidation. No evidence suggests that any of these incidents were coordinated, police said. There is no evidence that any of these events had prior planning or preparation.
The North Vernon Police Department is aware of certain allegations stating that “ hit lists” and videos depicting animal cruelty were discovered related to one of the events. At this time, no evidence has been discovered nor provided to support these claims, police said.
School officials are aware of the incidents and school protocols were followed in each event. Suspension and or expulsion of students is the sole responsibility of the school corporation.
All the above cases have been forwarded to the juvenile court for prosecution.
For more on this story, see Wednesday’s Republic.
