One Muskegon student has been arrested following a threat made to Orchard View Middle School. The incident comes one day after multiple school across the state of Michigan were hit with 'swatting' attempts.
In a letter sent to parents, school officials say the student has been “turned over to local authorities,” after using his personal cellphone to call in a threat, while a risk assessment had been immediately launched.
Jim Nielsen is Orchard View Schools Superintendent. I asked him how confident he was that the district is safe.
“Very confident," Nielsen said. "The student thought it was a joke, and he understands that this is not a laughing matter.”
The threat at Orchard View follows a number “swatting” incidents across the state on Tuesday.
In response, Michigan Attorney Dana Nessel said her office would take all threats to school safety seriously, and echoed Superintendent Nielsen’s comments; that fake threats to schools are no laughing matter.
“Whether these are real threats made by those intent on doing harm or pranks made by kids trying to get a day off, they are real crimes with real consequences.”
Nessel warns students and parents that calling in threats to schools is punishable by up to 20 years in prison.