PRAIRIE GROVE -- Middle school students were searched before class Thursday morning (May 17) after a threat was found in a girls' bathroom at the school, officials said.
The district learned late Wednesday of a threat made against Prairie Grove Middle School for Thursday, according to a statement on the school's website.
Capt. Jeff O'Brien with Prairie Grove Police Department said the threat was something to the effect, "everyone will die 5/17."
The school called parents and released a statement asking students not to bring backpacks or other bags if possible Thursday. The release also said a sixth-grade field trip would be canceled due to safety concerns.
Friday, Superintendent Allen Williams said the school took precautions to make sure everyone was safe. Students were sent to a central point so that they could be checked before they came into school. Police officers set up in the gym and scanned students with wands and searched backpacks before classes began Thursday morning.
Washington County's K9 unit was at the school Thursday morning, along with Prairie Grove officers and an agent with the FBI who lives in Prairie Grove.
"Everything went well," Williams said. "Nothing was found to put anyone in danger. After about 45 minutes, it was pretty much a regular school day."
Friday was considered a regular day, though school staff kept an eye out for anything out of the ordinary, Williams said.
Police are investigating, Williams said.
"The likelihood of it being a credible threat is not very high, but we take precautions anyway," he said. "People need to know to be careful of what you say. In today's climate, you can't talk about these things jokingly."
General News on 05/23/2018