2 Niwot Teens Arrested For Threats Against School

NIWOT, CO, -- Two 16-year-old Niwot students turned themselves in to Boulder County authorities Friday after warrants were issued for their arrests for making threats against their school. They are being held on $1000 bond in the juvenile detention center, the Boulder Sheriff's office said in a statement.

The incident started Feb. 16, when several students at Niwot High School, located at 8989 Niwot Road, reported via the "Safe2Tell" app that a 16-year-old student made statements and had posted a video on social media referring to the Feb. 14 school shootings in Parkland, Florida.

An investigation was launched by the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office, with the assistance of Niwot High School, St. Vrain Valley School District (SVVSD), and the Longmont Police Department. A second 16-year-old male student was identified as being involved.

Although the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office asked the school district to keep information about the report confidential to protect the integrity of the ongoing investigation, administrators at Niwot High School immediately told both students they were not allowed on SVVSD property while the investigation was being conducted. Both of the students’ school lockers were searched and investigators also executed search warrants at the students’ homes and on their electronic devices, a police statement said..

Warrants were issued Friday for the students. One is charged with several misdemeanors of interference with a school, criminal tampering, arson and criminal mischief. The second student was charged with criminal tampering and criminal mischief.

The boys turned themselves in at the Boulder County Sheriff's Office and were booked in the Juvenile Detention Center, the sheriff's office said. Both arrest warrants have a $1,000 bond and order both boys to have no contact with the Niwot High School campus or with each other. The sheriff's office will not be releasing their names because they are juveniles, police said.

"The investigation uncovered that the two students had a desire to disrupt school and cause damage to the campus infrastructure, which may have put students and staff at risk," a statement from the office said.

“We want to assure our community that we take school threats seriously, and we actively work with our law enforcement partners and the school districts to provide a safe learning and teaching environment for the students and faculty,” said Robert Sullenberger, Boulder County Sheriff’s Office operations division chief.

Image via Niwot High School