Somerset County officials announce that a 13-year-old Franklin Middle School Student has been charged with creating a false public alarm.
According to county officials, on Tuesday, December 14, the Franklin Township Police Department was alerted by school officials that a text message had been circulating among several students threatening a violent act at the Franklin Middle School Hamilton Street Campus that was to occur on the following day.
Officials said that School Resource Officers and Detectives from the Franklin Township Police Department immediately initiated an investigation and quickly determined the message's origin and that the threat was not credible.
According to officials, following a thorough and comprehensive investigation, it was determined that a 13-year-old student from the Middle School had sent the message as a prank.
The case was screened with the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office, and charges of causing false public alarm, third degree, were authorized.
"Incidents such as these will not be tolerated. We will continue to work with the Franklin Township Police Department to ensure the safety and security of our student body, staff, and visitors," Superintendent of Schools, Dr. John Ravally, said.
"We urge parents to discuss with their children that incidents like this are serious and will always be referred to law enforcement."
"I am proud of the swift and sure actions of our officers. Through their hard work and dedication, they were able to quickly determine that this was not a credible threat," Quovella M. Maeweather, Franklin Township Public Safety Director, said.
"Incidents such as these put a tremendous stress on emergency services. I hope that young people will begin to realize that what they deem as a 'prank' has very real consequences."
Photo from the Franklin Township Board of Education