Bomb threat suspect expelled

A 14-year-old girl was expelled from Oak Harbor High School and arrested for making a bomb threat, but that hasn’t ended the problem.

The girl was arrested Feb. 23 after another bomb threat was discovered scribbled in a school restroom.

Oak Harbor Police Captain Rick Wallace said the girl was arrested because she was seen near the restroom shortly after a bomb threat was discovered. He didn’t elaborate on the details of the ongoing investigation.

Wallace said the girl was arrested in connection with a single threat. Police are investigating whether she, or any of her friends, are connected with six other bomb threats that have been made at the school in recent weeks.

Should the girl be convicted, Wallace said police will look at recouping costs associated with searching the schools.

Each threat requires a time-consuming bomb search by emergency responders and forces evacuation of the school.

While a person was arrested for making a bomb threat, the problem continues.

Students were evacuated Wednesday morning, March 2, when another bomb threat was discovered in a restroom. “We cleared the building and searched it,” said Principal Dwight Lundstrom.

The bomb threat was discovered at approximately 10 a.m. and students returned to class approximately 45 minutes later, said Joe Hunt, school district communications director.

Wednesday’s bomb threat was the seventh one discovered at the high school since January. One threat also forced the evacuation of an elementary school.

In response, Lundstrom said officials are doing more to control student access throughout the high school. Students late to class are being sent to the main office for a tardy slips and several restrooms in the school have been closed.

Comment on this story.

COMMENTING RULES: We encourage an open exchange of ideas in our online community, but we ask you to follow our guidelines for respecting community standards. In a nutshell, don't say anything you wouldn't want your mother to read. Please see our FAQ if you have questions or concerns about using Facebook to comment.