Police say several kids aged 11 to 17 have been arrested or face charges following a series of threats made against multiple Valley schools in the last week. The most recent arrest was made last Thursday by the Phoenix Police Department.
Police say they arrested a teenage boy following a social media threat involving a dozen schools in the Phoenix area. According to the department, the threat caused about 6,000 students to be absent after the post was made around Sept. 12.
Police said Friday the teen, who was booked on felonies including terroristic threats and computer tampering, "admitted to his involvement and stated that the threat was made after a dare by a peer group," police said in a statement.
“We understand teenagers are going to make mistakes at times and we get that. You know, that's why they have oversight at school with teachers and, you know, obviously parents have the oversight at home. But this is not a mistake you want to approach. This is not a line you want to cross," said Phoenix police Sgt. Rob Scherer.
Scherer also says making such threats carries severe legal consequences.
“The charge you're going to get is a terroristic threat. It's a class three felony. There's financial liability associated with it. And understand it's a terroristic threat for a reason," he said.
In Mesa, police say five juveniles are facing charges made in connection with verbal or online threats at two high schools and an elementary and junior high school there.
