Suspect Arrested Following 'Creepy Clown' Threat at Temecula's Chaparral HS: UPDATE

UPDATE 3:25 p.m.: Temecula Police officers have located the individual responsible for the initial threat to Chaparral High School according to public information officer Deputy Mike Vasquez. "No credible threats were located and the campus deemed safe," he said.

Following investigation, "a suspect was identified and located," Vasquez stated in a release.

Investigators placed a 15-year-old student under arrest on Friday afternoon. The juvenile was booked into juvenile hall for criminal terrorist and bomb threats according to Vasquez.

"There were no weapons or explosive devices involved and the investigation is still ongoing at this time," he said. "The Temecula Police Department is committed to the safety of its citizens and appreciates the public’s assistance when reporting suspicious activity or threats of violence."

UPDATE 11:15 a.m.: Temecula school officials have decided to cancel classes at Chaparral High School following "creepy clown" threats that were made last night and this morning.

One of the threats, which claimed that something would happen on campus at 10 a.m., has apparently proven to be false. But as 10 a.m. came and went with no actual incident, parents continued to pick up their students on campus.

School officials are now working on releasing the rest of the students.

SEE MORE: Chaparral High Shut Down for the Day, Students Flee School in Mass Exodus

Here is the latest from school officials:

Thankfully, the social media threat received this morning regarding a 10:00 a.m. incident has passed without incident. Many students have already been picked up by parents. Due to the disruption of this morning’s social media threat continuing with an instructional day is not an option.

As a result, we have developed a reunification/release plan that we need parents to assist us with.

Starting at 10:45 a.m., we are moving the remaining students from their classrooms on campus to the gym.
In order for students to be released to go home, we need students to have verification from their parent that they can be released. Here are three ways you can provide that verification.

1. If you want to personally pick up your student, please come to the gym anytime between 10:45 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.
If you authorize your student to leave campus by their own means:
1. Call your student on their cell phone. They will hand the phone to a reunification staff member who will verify your identify and release your child to go home.
2. You can also email cgandy@tvusd.k12.ca.us with the same information. Please be sure to identify your student(s) name and your name and relationship to the student(s) in the email. Staff will match up email with student and release your child to go home.

Students who are still on campus at 2:30 p.m. will be dismissed as usual. Adult transition students will be transported at 1:00 p.m. All other students who utilize district transportation services will be transported at 2:30 p.m.
Thank you for your patience and understanding.

ORIGINAL STORY: TEMECULA, CA — Temecula police and school officials are working Friday morning to sort out an apparent "threat" made at Chaparral High School.

According to district officials, the threat first came to light late Thursday.

"Police were immediately involved and an investigation continued throughout the evening, contacts with individuals were made and continue this morning," Temecula Valley Unified School District officials said in a statement Friday morning.

"At this time, we do not have any information to determine the credibility of the threat but can tell you that today, Friday, has been widely associated with the clown hoax rumors that have been ongoing this week.

"We didn’t notify families prior to this morning to allow police and staff the time to pursue the investigation last evening. We were hopeful that leads would have resulted from contacts and that we would not have to create a panic."

However, about 30 minutes after that statement was released by TVUSD, a second "threat" apparently came to light, indicating that "something will occur at 10 a.m."

One of the purported threats, which was sent out on Twitter, indicated that someone claimed to have explosives and clown masks. They also made a reference to the infamous school shooting at Columbine, saying "Good luck surviving the new Columbine."

"Again, we have police on campus and every possible precaution is being taken to deal with this undetermined social media threat," the district says.

Temecula's police chief says several police officers are on site, walking around and looking for anything suspicious. They are also using K-9s to search the school.

"We take threats like this very serious," Chief Jeff Kubel said. "We will be conducting a thorough investigation to ensure the person(s) responsible are identified and prosecuted criminally."

School officials say if parents would like to pick up their students early, they may do so. This appears to be an option many parents are exercising, as images from the high school Friday morning showed the front office packed out the door with parents waiting to get their children.

Here's the statement in full from TVUSD:

CHS Parents,
We are aware that a new threat has been posted within the last 15 minutes stating that something will occur at 10:00 a.m. Again, we have police on campus and every possible precaution is being taken to deal with this undetermined social media threat.

We understand that you may want to pick up your students. If you choose to do this, we need you to follow procedures so that we keep this orderly and safe.

If you wish to pick up your child from school, please send them a text letting them know to come to the front office. Students will be able to show these text messages to their teachers, and teachers will write them a pass to the office where they will be able to formally check out and leave.

If your child does not have a cell phone, please come to the office and we will call to that student’s classroom for them to be released.

Thank you for your cooperation as we work to match each request.

Anyone who has any information about the identity/location of the person(s) making the threat can call (951) 696-3000 to speak with an investigator, police say.

Temecula was one of the first cities in California to get the "creepy clown" sightings in town, as the national craze started to spread West this week.

On Wednesday police told Patch that despite those "sightings," there had been no actual reports made to them, nor crimes committed.

"While it is not illegal to wear a clown mask, illegally carrying weapons or making criminal threats to harm others will be thoroughly investigated and those responsible will face criminal charges," Kubel said earlier this week.

SEE ALSO:

• From Laughing to Screaming: The History of Clowns and Terror
• Are 'Creepy Clowns' Coming to California? 'Sightings' Reported in Golden State

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(Patch file photo by Renee Schiavone)