Teen Arrested In Connection With Bomb Threat At Niwot High School

BOULDER COUNTY, CO — A 16-year-old student has been arrested in connection with a bomb threat at Niwot High School, the Boulder County Sheriff's Office announced Thursday. The school was evacuated Tuesday morning after three Safe2Tell messages were received.

The student was charged with false report of explosives, interference with an education institution and false reporting to authorities, the sheriff's office said. He's been taken to the Juvenile Assessment Center.

Students and staff were evacuated from the school, at 8989 Niwot Road, just after 11 a.m. Tuesday morning. All roads that surround the school were closed while authorities investigated.

Two Safe2Tell messages were received Monday evening that "suggested a possible bomb threat," the sheriff's office said. An investigation was launched and two students were interviewed. Based on the initial investigation, authorities did not believe the threat was credible; however, law enforcement officers were sent to monitor the high school Tuesday morning before it opened.

The sheriff's office then received a third Safe2Tell report, which "provided more context" for the previous reports. Students and staff were evacuated and escorted to a nearby church "out of an abundance of caution," the sheriff's office said.

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"After a very thorough search of the school by law enforcement, including K9 teams, we are happy to report that nothing suspicious was found," the sheriff's office said in a tweet Tuesday.

The sheriff's office worked with St. Vrain Valley School District to investigate the threat. Investigators interviewed "multiple" students and staff to find out which "school-owned device" the threat originated from, and then identified who they believe sent the bomb threat, authorities said.