UPDATE: Suspect Arrested in Mead High School Social Media Threat Investigation
Spokane County Sheriff’s Office School Resource Deputy Jeff Rogers contacted and arrested a 13-year-old female suspect in connection with last Tuesday’s social media threat mentioning Mead High School. She was booked into the Spokane County Juvenile Detention Facility for Threats to Bomb or Injure Property.
Deputy Rogers, assisted by Major Crimes Detectives, identified a possible suspect during his investigation of a social media threat posted on SnapChat by what appeared to be a fraudulent account.
During an interview, the suspect first denied knowing anything about the account or the threatening post. She later admitted she made the fraudulent account with a friend. Deputy Rogers developed probable cause during the investigation to arrest the juvenile female who was booked into the Spokane County Juvenile Detention Facility.
RCW 9.61.160 (http://app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=9.61.160)
Threats to bomb or injure property—Penalty.
(1) It shall be unlawful for any person to threaten to bomb or otherwise injure any public or private school building, any place of worship or public assembly, any governmental property, or any other building, common carrier, or structure, or any place used for human occupancy; or to communicate or repeat any information concerning such a threatened bombing or injury, knowing such information to be false and with intent to alarm the person or persons to whom the information is communicated or repeated.
(2) It shall not be a defense to any prosecution under this section that the threatened bombing or injury was a hoax.
(3) A violation of this section is a class B felony punishable according to chapter 9A.20 RCW.
This investigation remains open and no further information is available at this time. Additional arrests are possible depending on the outcome of the investigation.
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Original Press Releases from December 4, 2018:
Social Media Threats Investigation Continues
Spokane Valley and Spokane County Sheriff’s Deputies, with the assistance of Major Crimes Detectives, continue to investigate the social media threat mentioning East Valley High School as well as additional posts being circulated via social media referencing Mead High School and West Valley High School. School Resource Deputies are working with School District Officials to assist.
These posts are being circulated rapidly before being reported to law enforcement or school officials, which is increasing fear among students, parents, and staff, while hampering investigative efforts.
Please do not spread these social media posts, report them immediately.
Since receiving the East Valley High School threats posted through Snapchat last night, additional posts have been reported referencing West Valley High School and Mead High School. The school districts have been made aware of this information and are diligently working with our School Resource Deputies to ensure the safety of students and staff.
At this time, the accounts used appear to be fake/fraudulent but Detectives are working to identify the person(s) who seem to have a goal of spreading fear and concern in our community.
Anyone with information regarding this investigation or can help identify the suspect(s) is urged to call Crime Check at 509-456-2233, contact a School Resource Deputy or School Official immediately.
Students who continue to spread these posts along with added comments perpetuating and stoking fear are NOT helping the situation and hindering the investigation. Please report these posts as requested.
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Spokane Valley Deputies Investigating Social Media Threat
Spokane Valley Deputies, East Valley High School Resource Deputy McQuitty and East Valley School District Officials continue to work together to investigate a Snapchat threat posted last night.
Additional Deputies will be at the high school and patrolling the area as an added precaution.
On December 3, 2018, at approximately 7:30 p.m., Spokane Valley Deputies began investigating the report of an internet threat toward East Valley High School posted on Snapchat. Deputies notified the East Valley High School Resource Deputy and East Valley School District Officials.
Throughout the evening, Deputies worked to identify the person responsible for this threat and to determine the validity of the Snapchat account.
We want to ensure parents the priority of the East Valley School District, Spokane Valley Police and the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office is the safety of the students and staff. We will continue to investigate this and any other threat vigorously and hold the person(s) accountable for their actions.
Please, if anyone has information regarding this incident, you are urged to contact EVHS Resource Deputy McQuitty, East Valley High School Officials or Crime Check at 509-456-2233.
Unfortunately, these threats continue to happen at schools here and across the Nation. We ask parents to talk to their school aged children about the use of social media and the consequences of their actions. We also ask if a threat is observed on social media that it is reported immediately, not merely forwarded or spread around the internet.
See It - Say It