JUVENILE ARRESTED FOR SCHOOL BOMB THREAT

HOLMES COUNTY, Fla. - An 11-year-old juvenile has been arrested and charged with making a bomb threat at Bethlehem School on Friday, April 6. Holmes County Sheriff’s Office responded to the school with the assistance of bomb detection dogs from Bay County Sheriff’s Office and Dothan Police Department.

Students and staff evacuated after a student turned in a note that indicated there was a bomb on campus.

The student stated he found the note near a water fountain but later admitted he wrote the note because he wanted to get out of school.

The juvenile is charged with making bomb threats and has been transported to a Department of Justice juvenile detention facility in Panama City.

Holmes County Sheriff John Tate urges parents to take time to speak with their children about the seriousness of bomb threats.

“School threats are not a matter to be taken lightly,” said Sheriff Tate. “We treat every report like this as credible, but children should also understand that an individual who makes a threat can still be charged, whether or not the threat was legitimate.”

Sheriff Tate would like to thank Holmes County School District, Bethlehem School staff, Holmes County EMS, Dothan Police Department, Bay County Sheriff’s Office, Carmel Assembly of God Church staff, and the Esto and Pittman Volunteer Fire Departments for their assistance.