Separate threat of violence against high school last Friday still under investigation

The Town of Manlius Police Department has arrested a local juvenile in relation to making a comment about explosive materials in Pine Grove Middle School, an East Syracuse-Minoa school building, during dismissal at about 3 p.m. on Monday, October 16, according to a department press release.

The comment was overheard by other students and reported to the school principal who contacted the Manlius Police Department’s School Information Resource Officer immediately. The Town of Manlius Police Department coordinated with the ES-M School district and promptly identified the juvenile, investigated the claim and determined the comment was not a viable threat.

The arrestee, being a juvenile under the age of 16, was charged with Falsely Reporting an Incident in the Second Degree, a Class E Felony. Due to the age of the juvenile their name is not being released.

The case has been forwarded to Onondaga County Family Court.

This arrest is not related to the incident that was reported on Friday, Oct. 13, at ESM High School, which is still under investigation.

That incident involved a threat made that identified “Friday the 13th” as the date of an alleged “shooting.” Based on this threat, the school immediately went into “shelter in place” and members of the Town of Manlius Police Department, New York State Police K-9 units and Onondaga County Sheriff’s Deputies with a K-9 Unit responded to the school.

A subsequent search of the school by police and canine units was negative for weapons.

A student was interviewed, however, there is no indication that the student was specifically involved in the threat.

At this time, no information has been developed indicating this was a credible threat, however, the investigation is ongoing.

Anyone with information pertaining to this investigation is asked to contact the Town of Manlius Police TIPS line at 315-682-8673 or by email at [email protected].