NORTHEAST OHIO (WOIO) – Multiple days this week, school districts here in Northeast Ohio have been targeted by social media threats.
This is happening just after the start of the school year, and just a week after high school shooting in Georgia that left two students and two teachers dead.
Some local school districts have issued closures due to the threats. Others have an increased police presence.
Local police have arrested at least three teenagers in connection to the separate threat investigations.
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Here’s the latest information about what is happening, and how school leaders are tackling the problem.
TIMELINE OF THE THREATS
On Thursday, Willowick police said Willowick Middle School was subject to a social media threat.
The building remained open with additional police.
Clearview High School and Durling Middle School in Lorain County were closed Thursday.
On Tuesday, Clearview Local Schools officials closed Clearview High School and Durling Middle School due to a bomb threat.
Superintendent Dr. Jerome Davis said the bomb threat was made on social media Monday evening, but not noticed until Tuesday morning.
19 News has reached out to the district to learn the reason behind Thursday’s closure.
RELATED STORY: Several Northeast Ohio school districts closed Tuesday due to threats
What happened Thursday is just the latest in a string of similar incidents. This week alone, schools in Cuyahoga, Lorain, Summit, Lake and Wayne counties have received threats.
The Nordonia Hills City School District confirmed the high school and middle school were targeted Wednesday by a social media hoax.
As a result, Macedonia police took steps including coordinating with other local police, reviewing safety protocols and collaborating with additional school districts.
Lorain County JVS shifted to virtual learning Wednesday following a social media threat.
Orrville police said that on Wednesday, Orrville Schools were one of many districts named in a social media threat.
Then on Thursday, Orrville High School was again targeted by a social media threat.
Orrville Police Department posted Friday morning that Orrville City Schools will be closed Friday out of an abundance of caution.
Lorain High School, its administrative central office and the Cleveland Arts and Social Sciences Academy were closed Tuesday due to threats.
On Monday, Garfield Heights police launched an investigation for a social media threat against several Garfield Heights and Maple Heights schools.
TEENAGERS ARRESTED
Local police have arrested at least three teenagers in connection to the separate threat investigations.
Hours into their investigation Monday, Garfield Heights police took a 13-year-old girl into custody.
Lorain police said their investigation uncovered a 12-year-old girl was responsible for the threat that closed its high school. She received a court summons.
And in Orrville, police said officers arrested a 16-year-old student Thursday in connection to the school threat against its high school.
RELATED STORY: Orrville police arrest teen connected to school threat
When it comes to threats, the Cleveland Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation has previously gave this warning:
Issuing a threat to schools, events, and other public buildings. —even over social media, via text message, or through email—is a federal crime. Those who post or send these threats can receive up to five years in federal prison, or face state or local charges.
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