Boy Arrested For Threatening Novato Middle School Students, Staff: Police

NOVATO, CA – Police arrested a boy after he allegedly made a threat against a middle school in Novato.

The Novato Police Department received information at 3:26 p.m. Tuesday that a threat had been made against students and staff at Sinaloa Middle School. After investigating the incident, police identified a 12-year-old boy from the school as the individual who made the threat, authorities said.

Police contacted the student at his home and he cooperated with their investigation, officials said.

The boy was arrested on suspicion of making criminal threats and was immediately suspended from school, according to police.

Police searched the boy's home and his school locker, police said. Three replica guns were found at the home, Lt. Sophia Winter said. They were toy guns.

Police said there is no further danger to the students or staff at the school. Officials also do not believe any other people were involved in the incident.

"Our top priority is to ensure the safety of our community, especially our schools," police said in a statement. "We regularly work closely in cooperation with the Novato Unified School District and North Bay Security to ensure the safety of all school campuses within our city. All officers are trained in the identification and response to the threat of violence on school campuses. We are confident this threat has been thoroughly investigated and there is no further danger to the students or staff."

Officers will provide additional high visibility patrols at Sinaloa Middle School Wednesday to make sure parents and teachers feel safer at the school, police said.

The Novato Police Department encourages anyone who has information about potential threats to any school to call the police department.

"Working together we can have a safe learning environment for our students, faculty and staff," police said.

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