13-year-old student arrested in relation to bomb threat hoax at local middle school
The Palm Springs Police Department announced a teenager will face charges for allegedly making a bomb threat against their middle school.
On Tuesday afternoon, Raymond Cree Middle School staff alerted PSPD to a possible threat made against the school. A Raymond Cree student had made a post on social media that "included a bomb threat that was to occur at the school on 12/04/2019."
Classes went on as scheduled on Thursday, however, there was an increase in security and police presence on and around the campus.
Detectives were called to investigate the threat and were able to determine that the threat was a hoax allegedly created by a group of students to get a day off from school.
A 13-year-old male student will be facing a charge of criminal threats for their role in the hoax. PSPD will continue to work with the Palm Springs Unified School District as the investigation continues.
PSPD would like to remind residents that if you see or hear of any threats call 911 if it is an emergency or the PSPD non-emergency line at 760-327-1441. Anonymous information can also be reported to Crime Stoppers at 760-341-7867.
"All threats, whether real or perceived, are taken seriously, and the safety of our students is our number one priority. Once the source of the post is located, appropriate legal and disciplinary action will also be taken. Please remind your students to report anything they see, hear or feel is suspicious. Please share with them, too, that no threats are a joke; the police take all threats seriously," Raymond Cree Principal Bernie Marez wrote in a letter to parents Tuesday.
