Bomb Threat Tweets Don't Give Students a Snow Day

A misguided attempt by three Anne Arundel County students to have Friday classes called off ahead of the blizzard led them to make a bomb threat in jest, authorities say.

Instead of scoring a day off for students, the youths face court appearances for criminal charges for their Twitter messages.

One of the tweets said, “@AACountySchools THE BOMB IS HIDDEN IN THE SCHOOL BET YOU CANT FIND IT BEFORE TOMORROW BETTER CANCEL SCHOOL.”

Social media was full of debate Thursday night as parents and students critiqued the school system’s plan to stick with its schedule of classes with a 2 p.m. dismissal. That would have put buses on the roads roughly an hour before the winter storm was expected to hit the region.

Maryland is under a blizzard warning from 3 p.m. Friday to 6 a.m. Sunday, with the potential for two feet of snow in the Annapolis area.

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This comment on the Anne Arundel County Police Department’s Facebook page was typical of residents questioning the school system’s decision Thursday night. Nancy Towles Hurman said, “advise the AA Co public schools to close early or close tomorrow......We don’t need school buses out on the roads, kids walking home once this starts. My grandson’s school lets out at 1:20-----just in time for the initial bout of accidents.”

Other commenters supported the schools when the forecast has been revised, and many noted parents have the final call on whether their child attends school.

Susanne Agniadis commented, “As a parent you have full control and responsibility for your child. Want them home, keep them home.”

The attempt by the students to give everyone a snow day was reported to Anne Arundel County Police about 11:24 p.m. Thursday The tweet referred to a bomb threat at “CMS” or Crofton Middle School.

Officers visited the youth’s home in Crownsville, where they talked with the juvenile and parents. Police said the student cooperated and assured officers there was no intent to harm anyone. The juvenile explained that along with two other friends, they planned to post the threats in an attempt to have school canceled for the day.

Two other juveniles involved with the planning and posting of school threats were also located, interviewed with their parents, and charged.

All three students were cited as juveniles with false statement-destructive device, school-disruption operation, and threats of mass violence, police said.