JEFFERSONVILLE, Ind. — A southern Indiana 12-year-old has been arrested for allegedly making threats to their middle school, the latest in a string of Hoosier students being arrested for school threats. Local police said charges against two more students may come soon.
Arrest of 12-year-old
The Jefferson Police Department made the arrest around 2 p.m. Thursday after determining that a 7th grader had reportedly made social media posts threatening two local middle schools: Parkview and River Valley.
The 12-year-old - a student at Parkview - was arrested on school property with their parents present, JPD said. The student now faces a felony intimidation charge in relation to the alleged threats.
The department said detectives are gathering information that may lead to charges being filed against two more students.
"Probable cause affidavits will be submitted for prosecutorial review to produce felony intimidation charges on two additional students," JPD said.
No other information was immediately provided by police. The student is not being identified due to them being a minor.
Community reactions
Greater Clark County Schools posted on social media Thursday reacting to the threats, stating that more officers may be present at the two middle schools in the coming days.
"Any time a threat is made against our schools, we immediately involve the local law enforcement to do a thorough investigation," the district said. "In an abundance of caution, you may notice additional officers present on our campuses."
The school district also encouraged local parents to talk to their children about school safety.
"Parents, in these situations, we encourage you, just like our students, 'If you see something, say something'," they said. "We need your help to ensure the safety of our campuses and we request that your first step should be to contact the police and school authorities rather than turning to social media accounts."
The police echoed those sentiments.
"JPD would like to ask parents to speak with their children to remind them of the severity of communicating any type of threat and the importance of reporting a threat to a school official or to law enforcement," they said. "Sharing or creating misinformation on social media only adds to the chaos and interferes with the efficiency of the police and school admin investigations."
School threat arrests across the state
The arrest of the 12-year-old is the latest in a string of Hoosier students being arrested for alleged threats to their schools.
On Thursday, police in Richmond arrested a 14-year-old after the FBI reported the student was making threats against the high school on Snapchat.
Earlier this week, Marion police arrested two juveniles accused of making online threats at two local schools. On Tuesday, police arrested a student for allegedly making online threats at an unspecified school within the Warren Township Metropolitan School District.
Last week, Anderson police arrested a student who allegedly threatened to bring a gun to class. Indiana State Police also arrested a Perry Meridian student last week for making alleged threats.
These issues have not only plagued Jeffersonville and central Indiana.
Throughout this week, at least seven juvenile students have been arrested in Terre Haute for making threats throughout the Vigo County School Corporation.
In Gibson County, sheriff’s deputies say a juvenile was arrested on Thursday after allegedly making threatening statements.