“I hope this sends a message to anyone tempted to report a fake emergency: You will be caught, and there will be consequences for your actions.” –Martin County Schools Superintendent Larry James.
BY RACHEL DOVE
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
INEZ — A Martin County High School student has been criminally charged for a prank bomb threat that led to the evacuation of the high school last week.
Martin County Dispatch received a hang-up call from a cell number at 12:30 p.m. Jan. 11. When the dispatcher called the cell number back, a male answered and said, “I’ve got your bomb,” according to Martin County Sheriff John Kirk. The individual ended the call and failed to answer additional calls.
Dispatchers immediately triangulated the call and traced it to Martin County High School.
“In a matter of minutes, we became aware that the call came from inside the high school,” Sheriff Kirk said.
Law enforcement alerted school officials, who evacuated students and bused them to nearby Inez Elementary School.
Officers from the MCSO and Kentucky State Police investigated, sweeping the building and campus with the help of a bomb-sniffing K-9 unit.
Kirk announced no device was detected and declared the building had been cleared for students to return an hour and a half later.
“Law enforcement has identified the person responsible for the bomb threat at the high school earlier today,” the sheriff said that evening. “We have determined it to be a student prank, but that student has been located and criminally charged at this time. Their identity cannot be released as this student is a minor. School officials will determine the disciplinary action, but it is safe to send your kids to school tomorrow.”
Although the call was a prank, Kirk says, “It’s no laughing matter and we take it seriously.”
“When it comes to the safety of our children, there’s no room for error or hesitation,” added Kirk. “You treat it as a true emergency and jump into action.”
School personnel declined to comment on possible criminal charges or disciplinary actions.
“The safety of our students and staff is our main concern and top priority,” Martin County Schools Superintendent Larry James said. “We will never take threats like this lightly. Situations like this create a stressful environment for all involved. They’re disruptive to our schedule, and they tie up our law enforcement officers and 911 dispatchers and prevent them from addressing other issues.
“This isn’t funny; it’s not a joke, and I know the student responsible will not get off lightly,” added James. “I hope this sends a message to anyone tempted to report a fake emergency: You will be caught, and there will be consequences for your actions.”
Following a special closed session Monday, the Martin County Board of Education announced a decision to expulse a student but did not say if the expulsion was related to the prank bomb threat.