PCSO: Waverly schools placed on lockdown during social media post investigation
Pike County Sheriff Tracy D. Evans reports that on Wednesday, Aug. 21 at 8:35 a.m., the Pike County Sheriff's Office was contacted by the Ohio Highway Patrol Internet Watchdog Group regarding a threat of safety to one of the local county schools which had allegedly been posted over a social media app.
The social media post originated from a juvenile who is accused of making shooting threats to the school but was intercepted by Watchdog Group. Watchdog is an internet safety watch center and intelligence unit tasked with monitoring threats to Ohio Schools through The Hub Ohio State Highway Patrol.
Watchdog was able to provide the Sheriff’s Office with account information that assisted investigators in locating the involved residence in Pike County. They also provided additional information, which disclosed the name of the juvenile who had allegedly posted the threat.
The Pike County Sheriff's Office immediately notified Waverly City Schools and School Resource Officers of the threat. The Waverly Police Department and Pike County Sheriff’s Office coordinated efforts to assist with the school's security until the threat could be further investigated.
Waverly Police were able to locate and isolate the juvenile suspected of the threat, while Waverly School officials went into lockdown for the entire campus as required by school safety protocol.
Sheriff Deputies arrived and met with the juvenile, and after a lengthy investigation, it was determined the threat to be non-credible. During this time, Waverly Schools were taken off lockdown status and the juvenile was remanded into the custody of the mother.
This was an isolated incident, and the investigation is closed. This case will be presented to Pike County Prosecutor Mike Davis' Office for recommendation of alleged juvenile delinquent charges through Pike County Juvenile Court.
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