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Student ID'D As Threat Suspect

Posted on: Wednesday, 4 January 2006, 12:00 CST

By Jake Weyer, Duluth News-Tribune, Minn.

Jan. 4--Duluth police have identified an East High School student as the author of two threatening notes found at the school.

At a news conference Tuesday, Police Chief Roger Waller said the juvenile case has been referred to the St. Louis County Attorney's Office.

Police are requesting terroristic threat charges, which are felony charges for adults. Waller said he hopes charges will be filed this week.

Because the suspect is a juvenile who has not been charged, police would not release any details about the student. Police and school officials believe the suspect acted alone.

Duluth Superintendent Keith Dixon, who also attended the news conference, said he will recommend the student be expelled. The School Board would have to approve the expulsion, as required by state law.

The police department and school district have spent thousands of dollars on staff overtime to secure schools and investigate notes found at East on Oct. 19 and Dec. 16. Police and school staff searched lockers, secured entrances, set up metal detectors and excused students' absences when there were safety concerns.

"It took a tremendous emotional strain on everyone," Dixon said.

A student found the Oct. 19 note, which threatened that East would have a school shooting in November. Police and school officials interviewed students, staff and community members but did not pinpoint a suspect until a second note in the same handwriting was found Dec. 16.

Waller said neither threat was credible and that the student had not taken any steps to carry them out.

Dixon said he hopes the identification of a suspect brings some relief to East.

Dixon and Waller thanked law enforcement officials, school staff, students and community members involved in the investigation.

More information about the suspect and the investigation will be available after the suspect is charged, Waller said.

A threatening note found at Denfeld High School remains under investigation.

JAKE WEYER covers Duluth K-12 education. He can be reached weekdays at (218) 723-5342, (800) 456-8282 or by e-mail at jweyer@duluthnews.com.

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Source: Duluth News-Tribune (Duluth, Minn.)

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