Arrest Made In Threat That Delayed The Middle School Opening In Carmel

PUTNAM COUNTY, NY — The Carmel school district, already reeling from last month's TikTok scandal, delayed the opening of the George school Fischer Middle School Thursday morning for two hours over a threat of violence.

The Putnam County Sheriff’s Office announced it had made an arrest.

"The PCSO Bureau of Criminal Investigation continues to investigate this matter, and we have deployed additional personnel to the school for the day and reached out to a number of law enforcement agencies providing information, as well as the Department of Social Services," the Sheriff's Office said. "There is no danger or remaining threat to the safety of students and faculty at the school. In addition, patrol deputies will be present at schools throughout Putnam County during the day. In this case, we are providing the identity of the school due to the recent reports that have circulated in the communities as the George Fischer Middle School."

Putnam County Sheriff’s Deputies will be deployed to the school in addition to the normal complement of School Resource Officers assigned.

Last month, Carmel students on TikTok were discovered posing as district officials, posting videos created using artificial intelligence and impersonating different members of the district administration and the Putnam County Sheriff’s Department.

The Carmel Board of Education condemned the videos "along with the blatant racism, hatred and disregard for humanity displayed in some of them. We reaffirm our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion in our work and the District’s K-12 programs, and we urge our school community and the community at large to join in this effort, knowing that it will create a path to a better society and a better future."