By Hayleigh Gowans
Staff Writer
The Town of Manlius Police Department has announced the arrest of a 15-year-old East Syracuse Minoa High School student in relation to a threat made to multiple students via the Snapchat app on Nov. 1 that mentioned the use of a weapon.
At about 2 p.m. in the afternoon of Nov. 1, Manlius police responded to a threat of violence found on a bathroom wall at East Syracuse Minoa High School. This threat was found to be not credible and students and staff were not determines to be in danger.
While officers were there, it was discovered a separate threat of violence had been sent via the Snapchat phone application to at least nine students that mentioned weapon use, said Lieutenant Jeffrey Slater.
Investigation into the Snapchat threat revealed the threat was false and that students and staff were not in danger, and police arrested a 15-year-old student later that night. The student was charged with falsely reporting an incident in the third degree, a class A misdemeanor.
“We want student to know we [TMPD] do take all threats seriously. It’s not a joke and making false threats puts other students at risk and ties up police resources,” said Slater. “If you get caught there are serious criminal charges…Making false threats may lead to future seriously events being downplayed.”
ESM Superintendent Donna DeSiato released a statement to the school community the evening of Nov. 1.
“As with prior reported incidents, it has been determined by the Town of Manlius Police Department that none of the threats are credible. The Town of Manlius Police Department is continuing their investigation and seeking arrests with regard to each of these incidents, therefore anyone with information is advised to contact the Town of Manlius Police Department,” said DeSiato’s statement. “In fully cooperating with law enforcement and respecting their role as the lead investigative agency, the district is not at liberty to share or discuss any details at this time related these matters.”
Police say this incident was not related to the threats found on the bathroom wall that police responded to at ESM High School on both Oct. 31 and Nov. 1. The investigation into these incidents are still ongoing, and anyone with information is asked to contact the Town of Manlius Police Department by calling 315-682-2212, or making a confidential tip at 315-682-TMPD (8673) or by emailing [email protected].
