BUNNELL, FL – An Indian Trails Middle School student has been arrested after emailing written threats to detonate a bomb, to another student.
On Friday, February 3, 2023, a student reported to ITMS school administration that he received a strange email advising “I hate to do this to you, I’m getting a timer and bomb so stay wok” from another student in his class. The School Resource Deputy assigned to ITMS, SRD Cooper, was contacted immediately and conducted interviews with all involved students. He was shown the threatening message sent from the suspected student. SRD Cooper advised that the student who received the email message stated he had a well-found fear that the threat was credible.
SRD Cooper made contact with the suspected student and his parents, and interviewed the student at the school, where the student admitted he had composed the message but did not hit send. Several other witnesses who were also present during the time the message was composed, where also interviewed. Upon the conclusion of the interviews with the student and witnesses, it was determined that the email was composed and sent by the student. The student was taken into custody for making Written Threats to Kill and transported to the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility before being turned over to the Department of Juvenile Justice.
“Threats such as these are not a joke and will always be taken seriously,” Sheriff Rick Staly said. “We don’t like making these arrests, but we will come knocking on your door if your child makes any threat to harm someone. Parents talk to your kids and be the Sheriff in your home. Thank you to the student who alerted school administration who then alerted the SRD.”
“Flagler Schools appreciates the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office’s quick response in this case. Threats should not, and will not be taken lightly,” says Flagler Schools Superintendent Cathy Mittelstadt. “I want to assure our ITMS parents that the student in question was identified quickly. The fast work by our school administration meant there was no need for any type of lockdown or increased security level. This student is now subject to our Student Code of Conduct.”
The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office urges parents to talk to their children about the consequences of sending threats to commit violence. The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office will arrest anyone who threatens to commit a violent act.
Date: February 3, 2023
Prepared by: FCSO Public Affairs Office
Release #: 2023-24
Image: tcdmd.com
