OLIVESBURG — A 16-year-old student could be charged with inducing panic after a bomb threat was found early Tuesday morning at Crestview High School, according to the Richland County Sheriff’s Office.
According to Maj. Joe Masi of the Richland County Sheriff’s Office, the Ashland County Prosecutor’s Office will determine if charges are warranted following a review of the facts in the case. Ashland County is involved because the student lives in Ashland County, Masi said.
His name is being withheld because Richland Source does not identify minors.
A threatening note was discovered in a high school bathroom around 7:45 a.m. Tuesday, Crestview Superintendent Randy Dunlap said. The school implemented a lockdown and the sheriff’s office was notified. Sheriff’s deputies completed a sweep of the high school and when no true threat was discovered, classes soon began.
According to the Richland County Sheriff’s incident report, the 16-year-old student was seen on video entering a bathroom and leaving a short time later. Two students later came into the restroom, and one of them found the note. The handwritten note found in the bathroom said, “I can’t wait for the bomb to go off today.”
The individual who found the note took it to the school office and authorities were notified. The students were questioned and a suspect was identified.
“(The student) was watching the bathroom prior to going in and when he was done, he was watching the restroom,” the narrative reads. “He watched as (another male student) entered the office with the note and was pacing around.”
During questioning with a deputy, the 16-year-old admitted to leaving the note, the narrative states. The student said he was hoping to be caught, noted that he was having mental issues and contemplating suicide.
“He stated he is under a lot of stress and his father is having trouble with his job,” the narrative reads. “He said one day, while guns were out, he felt like hurting himself. While he would never do that, he stated that he wishes he would trip and it would just go off. (The boy) said he thought of the note this morning while walking into school.”
According to the Richland County Sheriff’s report, the student was taken to the hospital where emergency committal paperwork was completed and provided to the nursing staff.
Masi said because the boy lives in Ashland County, the Ashland County Prosecutor’s Office will determine if there will be charges.
