Police arrested an Anacortes School District student last week after alleged verbal threats of violence were reported to a school resource officer on Sept. 18.
“We take these statements very seriously, and situations like this illustrate the importance of reporting these kinds of threats to law enforcement and school officials. We certainly understand that these situations can be difficult and frightening, but it is
nonetheless important to remember to wait for the facts,” the Anacortes Police Department said in a news release sent Monday.
Anacortes police officers investigated the claims, interviewing students, parents, and staff before taking the juvenile into custody Friday. Charging paperwork was submitted for threats to bomb or injure property, according to the release.
The release stated no evidence indicated the student had a firearm, brought one to school, or kept a “kill list.”
The Anacortes School District posted a statement from Interim Superintendent Carl Bruner and Principal Nathan Plummer on Friday regarding a “safety incident” that occurred Thursday at Anacortes Middle School.
According to the district statement, the administration received a report that a student had verbally threatened the safety of students at Anacortes Middle School. “In alignment with our safety protocols, the report was immediately escalated, and administrators promptly involved the Anacortes Police Department, which is actively conducting a thorough investigation.”
Anacortes Police Captain Chad Pruiett said the student in custody is accused of directing a threat at another student.
Numerous community members have come forward to share information with Anacortes School Resources Officer Jordan Kellington, according to Pruiett.
This is not the first time the Anacortes School District has been the target of threats. A California teenager was sentenced to 48 months in prison for a nationwide swatting spree that included calls to Anacortes High School where he threatened to commit a mass shooting and claimed to have planted bombs throughout the school in October 2022.
This story was originally published Sept. 19. It was updated Sept. 22 with new information.
