Elkins Police investigating fifth hoax bomb threat at Elkins High School

ELKINS, W.Va. — Students at Elkins High School have now missed at least a portion of a school day five times in the 2016-17 school year as a result of hoax bomb threats forcing evacuation of the building.

“It’s more than just a prank,” Elkins Interim Police Chief J.C. Raffety said. “It’s something that can have very, very serious consequences. Not just to the person who perpetrates the crime, but also to innocent citizens within the community as well.”

According to West Virginia State Code, a conviction for falsely reporting bombs or other explosive devices can carry a prison sentence of up to three years and a fine of up to $2,000. That, however, isn’t the only cost associated with police investigating something that ultimately turns out to be a hoax.

“It’s not only that hoax bomb threats are a crime within themselves if the individuals are identified,” Raffety said. “It is a criminal act. The potential risk to students and staff during the evacuation process is also a concern.”

“No one can yell ‘fire’ in a crowded theater. The idea is that when people are in fear of their life or limb they can sometimes do things that result in injury to them.”

Five times this school year, police units from Elkins and Randolph County, along with fire fighters and first responders have responded to a threat at Elkins High School. Every time, the final determination has been the same.

“The moment that we don’t treat these calls as at least being possibly serious, capable of inflicting injury to many people, is the time that we fear that something may occur,” he said. “So, we have to be vigilant.”

According to Raffety, any major use of resources and assets devoted to a hoax threat winds up being a major waste of tax payer money.

“The cost is, maybe not just in dollars and cents but in assets, when you have vehicles like emergency squad vehicles, ambulances, possibly fire trucks,” Raffety said.

With police investigating five hoax threats since the school year began in August, Raffety said there is some frustration in his department–particularly when you consider the nature of the threats.

“[Suspect(s)] are either bored or maybe some other issue plays into their minds,” he said. “It is something that they should be aware of the severity of what they are doing.”

This latest threat was discovered in a bathroom on school grounds Monday morning. Raffety believes school staff and administrators are being more vigilant, but recognizes these are difficult crimes to solve.

“Really because of privacy issues, it’s difficult to identify sometimes,” he said.

The Elkins Police Department can be reached at (304)-636-0678.





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