On October 5, 2015, at 11:00 hours, administrative staff at Greenon High School made contact with their assigned Educational Support Officer, to report that a female student had received a text message indicating that an explosive device was located inside the school. The E.S.O. immediately summoned assistance, and Patrol and Investigations units responded to the school. Greenon High School staff and administration immediately evacuated the school.
Upon arrival, the other units of the Sheriff’s Office began investigating the incident, and discovered that there was an ongoing dispute between the female student who received the text message and another female student who formerly attended Greenon, but who now attends school in another county. The nature of the dispute was such that extensive hostile texts had been received by the student over an extensive period. Sheriff’s Office units, with the assistance of school administration, conducted a complete sweep and search by teams of every accessible area of the school, and no device was located. The students were brought back into the school, and the school day resumed, as the Investigations Division of the Sheriff’s Office continued their probe.
As a result of further interviews, it was revealed that the female student who had received the initial text message was actually responsible for sending it to her own device from another communication system within the school. She was taken into custody and transported to the Juvenile Detention Center, charged with Inducing Panic.
During the incident, another unrelated student attempted to leave school grounds in the midst of the evacuation, hampering accountability for the students’ safety, and became belligerent with school staff and deputies when instructed to return to the school grounds. That student was charged withMisconduct at an Emergency, and also taken to J.D.C.
Press Release from Greenon Schools:
Greenon High School evacuated all students and staff just after 11 a.m. Monday morning after a student reported a potential threat to staff members.
Working with the Clark County Sheriff’s Office, authorities determined that the threat was not credible and students returned to class to finish out the day.
The safety of our students and staff is our highest priority at Greenon Local Schools and we will continue to take all steps necessary to ensure a safe and secure learning environment. If you have any questions, please contact the school or District offices.
Police will continue to investigate. A One Call has been sent to parents to notify them of the evacuation.