A 14-year-old student accused of leaving a threatening note in a bathroom of Clearview Regional Middle School was apprehended and charged.
According to authorities, yesterday at approximately 6:40 p.m., an off duty police officer from another agency - who is also a youth basketball coach - located a threatening note in the lobby bathroom of Clearview Regional Middle School.
Officials say the officer made contact with Det. Adam McEvoy of the Harrison Township Police Department and units responded to the location, where they located the note that read “IM Bringing a bomb Tommorow”.
Police say the building was evacuated and several explosive detecting K9 Units from Gloucester and Camden County were called to clear the building. After the building was found to be negative for any explosive devices, it was secured for the evening. Clearview Administration then sent out a community notification via its School Messenger Notification Service. A copy of that notification was also posted to Harrison Twp. Police Dept. social media pages.
The Harrison Twp. Police Dept. along with Clearview Administration decided it would be best to conduct a controlled opening to ensure the safety of students and staff.
Officers from Harrison Twp. Police Dept., K9s from Gloucester County Sheriff’s Department and Mantua Police Dept., and Clearview Administration and staff arrived at the school at 6 a.m. and conducted a check of every one entering the building prior to the beginning of school. Again nothing was found.
An investigation into the source of the note was conducted and thorough review of the schools video system, Det. McEvoy, assisted by Ptl. Patrick Morris and Ptl. Ryan Golden, the two School Resource Officers assigned to the Clearview District, was able to develop a suspect. A fourteen-year-old male student from Mantua Twp. was charged with Terroristic Threats, and Creating False Public Alarm. He was released to the custody of his parents pending Juvenile Court.
The Harrison Township Police announced that the recent upgrades to the school security system played an integral role in the swift identification and apprehension of a suspect and in ensuring the safety and security of all students and staff.