It has been another busy day for law enforcement across northern Georgia as they work overtime to address the rash of school threats in the aftermath of the Apalachee school shooting.
Tuesday, September 10, began with reports out of White and Stephens counties of students sent to youth detention for making alleged threats. Mid-day, Hall County reported four more student arrests there, and now, two more Stephens County students have been arrested and charged with making terroristic threats and acts.
Both students were transported to the Regional Youth Detention Center (RYDC) in Gainesville, where now well over a dozen area students have been detained.
According to a news release from the Stephens County Sheriff’s Office, during two separate incidents on Tuesday, School Resource Officers (SROs) and Stephens County school officials responded to possible threats of violence at Stephens County High School. The sheriff’s office says two students verbally threatened their peers while school was in session.
“Their threats were immediately investigated by law enforcement and school officials,” the sheriff’s office says.
The alleged threats occurred hours apart.
“While many of these threats are being made in social circles within classrooms and public spaces, the Stephens County Sheriff’s Office and our partners at the Stephens County School System are treating every threat as credible,” the press release states. “Individuals who are discovered to be making threats of violence, including comments and ‘jokes,’ will be thoroughly investigated and charged accordingly.”
The Stephens County Sheriff’s Office continues to encourage parents and students to discuss the importance of school safety and the impact of their words.
“Each of us plays a role in keeping our schools and community safe,” the sheriff’s office says. “We are taking all threats seriously and will continue to work diligently to protect our parents, students, faculty, and staff at the Stephens County Schools.”
Parents and students concerned about school safety or other suspicious activity should contact the Stephens County School System, Stephens County 911, and the GBI Tip Line.
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