Police 'chasing down rumors' in threats

A threatening phone call and a series of bomb threats written on restroom walls caused one emergency evacuation and days of disrupted classes at Thomas Worthington High School.

Principal Jim Gaskill said a threatening phone call made to the school at 2 p.m. Oct. 18 caused an emergency evacuation of all students to the football stadium.

Gaskill wrote in a letter to parents that day, "While no concrete evidence of the threat surfaced, care was taken to ensure the safety and security of students and staff."

A few days later, on Wednesday, Oct. 24, someone wrote what Worthington police called "racially motivated notes and something specific to a bomb threat" for Thursday, Oct. 25.

"We had increased police presence in our building on Thursday, but for the most part, it was a normal school day," Gaskill said.

That afternoon, though, more threats were written on the girls and boys bathroom walls, reminding authorities that Oct. 25 was "boom day," Gaskill said.

Police continued to monitor the building on Friday, Oct. 26, but another threat was found late in the morning, this time written on a piece of paper.

Worthington police Lt. Doug Francis would not directly quote the letter, but said the general message was a threat to "shoot the place up."

"Our hands have been full for the last three days," Francis said Monday, Oct. 29. "There's an ongoing investigation. We've spent the last several days chasing down every rumor we hear."

A letter Gaskill sent home to parents Oct. 26 explained the finding of the last note and stated, "Because of the text messaging and phone calls that occurred (Oct. 25) and into today from students to students and to parents, panic has been created for no reason.

"We need to take care of each other," Gaskill wrote. "Rumors are disruptive and unproductive; we cannot participate in spreading misinformation."

Francis said the handwriting on the note is being analyzed, all rumors are being investigated and "any comments and misstatements on the note are being used to trace it back to the people behind this."

"One thing we've learned is there are no secrets in high school," Francis said. "Eventually there will be a rumor laced with truth."

"We've done our own piece of the investigation from a school standpoint, but any leads we've had haven't panned out for us," Gaskill said.

Gaskill said the police have continued to maintain extra security outside the school and in the parking lot.

"Our No. 1 priority is the safety and security of the kids who come to this building every day," he said. "Incidents like this are disruptive and threaten the school community. We as a school want to impress on our kids and families that we need to take care one another when things like this happen.

"Kids need to let us know what they know," he said. "We asked staff members to have some dialogue with kids in their classes and ask them to help us and not hold any information back."

Francis said police are practicing "threat assessment," which is really just "balancing an assessment with the mission of the school."

He said the school can't shut down for every incident, but that security has been heightened and parents were not allowed to pull up close to the school during pickup of students Oct. 25.

Francis said he is sure "there are students out there who are getting frustrated and concerned, and it's only a matter of time before enough is enough."

He said when the perpetrators are eventually caught, "they will be used as an example to everyone and prosecuted to the fullest extent" because of the serious nature of the threats.

Gaskill said, "What I hear from staff and kids is that they are anxious for this to stop, too.

"When the student or students are caught, the crime is a felony and we will press charges," he said. "As far as school consequences, the student would probably be recommended for expulsion.

"I think there is a strong desire by everyone to get back to our focus on education and learning," he said.

--with reports by Meredith Somers