Linden High Evacuated Wednesday After Threat Against Teacher

LINDEN, NJ — Linden High School was dismissed early Wednesday after a student made a threat on social media against a high school teacher. However, the threat was actually connected to Lincolnton High School in North Carolina, and not related to Linden High School at all, superintendent Danny Robertozzi explained.

"When students reported seeing a post that contained 'LHS' and a name similar to that of a high school staff member, the administration acted swiftly and out of an abundance of caution to enact a controlled dismissal," said Robertozzi in a letter to parents. "Linden police have determined that the suspected social media threat to which we alerted you earlier today was actually connected to Lincolnton High School in North Carolina, and that there was no connection and no threat made to Linden High School."

Linden police said they were alerted to the threat at 2:15 p.m. Wednesday. Although the threat was quickly deemed not to be credible, students were released early from school as a safety precaution. Police say the dismissal was done in a controlled fashion, with a police presence on high school grounds.

A sweep of the school was made, and the area was deemed safe. After-school activities went on as scheduled.

Arrests were made in North Carolina in connection with the incident.

The incident remains under investigation by the Linden Police Juvenile Bureau, and anyone with information regarding this threat is urged to contact Detective Leon Paster at (908) 474-8520.

"We will thoroughly investigate and prosecute any threats made against our schools," said Police Chief David Hart. "Disruptive behavior such as this unnecessarily puts our students and first responders in danger and will not be tolerated."

Photo of the high school from the Linden school district