A student at St. Patrick’s Catholic High School in Sarnia confessed to a “prank” Monday that led the school to call Sarnia police, says the St. Clair District Catholic School Board.
A student at St. Patrick’s Catholic high school in Sarnia confessed to a “prank” Monday that led to school officials calling police.
Sarnia police said Tuesday a youth had since been charged with one count of uttering a threat.
The board said a note found inside a desk Monday “alluded to a threat at the school” so police were called and began an investigation.
“Police have identified a student, who has co-operated fully with investigators and has confessed to the prank,” St. Clair District Catholic school board officials said in a news release.
“There is no threat to school safety and the investigation is now closed.”
Police said officers from its community patrol, criminal investigation and youth branches were involved in the investigation.
In an earlier news release Monday evening, the board said the decision had already been made to keep the school open to students and staff Tuesday following advice from police who did not consider the note to be a credible threat.
“As always, the safety of students and staff is the St. Clair Catholic District school board’s first priority,” education director Scott Johnson said in the release.
He thanked police for “their quick and thorough inquiry” and school staff for assisting the investigation.
“I know that this matter was upsetting for many and I am pleased to be able to now lay those concerns to rest,” Johnson said.
The board said it views acts of mischief very seriously, so the school will be following up with the student responsible.
Monday’s incident follows two other recent investigations and arrests after threats were discovered at Lambton Collegiate in Petrolia and Northern Collegiate in Sarnia.
“There will be no tolerance for any threats of this nature,” said Const. Giovanni Sottosanti of the Sarnia police. “It sends a lot of fear through the schools, especially with everything that’s happened lately in society.”
The threats at schools in Lambton County come after a shooting in May at a school in Texas left 19 children and two teachers dead.