By Sarah Stephens
Elmore Autauga News
Multiple threats on social media targeting schools across Alabama are under investigation, including Autauga and Elmore County.
We have confirmed that multiple agencies in our area are working together to identify those posting the threats, as well as those who are making comments in agreement, going so far as to say, “Can I help?”
We are told that as the posters are identified, they are being contacted by law enforcement. Because many are juveniles, information is very limited at this time. At least one juvenile was arrested by Montgomery Police overnight, we have confirmed.
Many parents contacted us overnight and this morning, saying they will choose to keep their kids home from school today. If you know of any threat made, please take a full screen shot with all information and contact your local police department or sheriff’s office.
Below is the latest information from the Prattville Police Department:
Prattville Police Department
We are aware of and in communication with the Autauga County Board of Education regarding the threats being circulated online towards our local schools and surrounding counties. We are also working with surrounding law enforcement agencies to investigate these threats and their legitimacy. AT THIS TIME, we do not feel there are any actual actionable threats against Prattville schools, however we will have additional officers at our schools today to help aleve any concerns of safety.
We take ALL threats to our children seriously and will inform you if any of those threats are genuine. More information will be posted as soon as we are able. We would like to remind you that the PPD will prosecute ANY individuals responsible to the FULLEST EXTENT Of THE LAW AS POSSIBLE for posting OR sharing them online in a manner that is meant to place fear in peoples minds about their safety at school. This includes those who think that this is a joke. We can assuredly inform you that we do NOT take it as such and you WILL be made an example of. Parents should be ACTIVE in teaching their children about responsible Internet use to prevent issues like this.
Please continue to send us screenshots of any posts you see in case we haven’t seen them ourselves. These types of things can spread like a virus throughout the area. Please refrain from posting them without context to help prevent spreading it unnecessarily.
As always, call us if you should need us.
