12-Year-Old Charged in Bomb Threat at North Harford Middle: Sheriff

A North Harford Middle School student was charged in relation to a bomb threat at his school Wednesday, according to the Harford County Sheriff’s Office.

The sixth-grade student was charged with threatening to harm school personnel, disturbing school operations and making a false statement about a destructive device, the sheriff’s office reported.

Parents and students informed the sheriff’s office at 7 a.m. Wednesday that someone had made statements on the site ask.fm threatening violence at the school, according to the report.

The sheriff’s office alerted Harford County Public Schools and reported that as students arrived at school, deputies, K-9 officers and additional school system personnel were on-site. The start of the school day at North Harford Middle was at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday because of an amended schedule since it is the last week of classes.

Upon investigation, detectives identified the suspect a a 12-year-old student, who was taken into custody without incident, the sheriff’s office reported.

He was interviewed and released to the custody of his parents, and the sheriff’s office reports that he did not have the means to carry out the threats that were made online. Authorities said he did not have any weapons.

• Threat Led to Lockdown at Fountain Green Elementary
• Last Day of School Announced in Harford County
• ‘Swatting’ Becoming Epidemic in New Jersey
  
• 3 Juveniles Charged in Fire at Historic Havre de Grace Home

“The Harford County Sheriff’s Office takes all threats to community and school safety seriously and will take all necessary steps to investigate any similar incidents,” the sheriff’s office said in a statement Wednesday evening. “At this time, it has been determined that the threat posted was a hoax...”

The incident came the day after a 12-year-old at Aberdeen Middle School was charged with threatening arson. According to the Office of the State Fire Marshal, the girl’s school bus driver found a letter she wrote threatening to commit arson before 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, and she was identified, charged and released to the custody of her parents.

The final day of school in Harford County Public Schools for middle school students is Friday, June 19.