Middle school bomb joke not so funny
0 Comments Published by Pioneer Staff on Tuesday, April 24, 2007 at 9:42 PM.
Student quickly recants claim of bomb in duffel bag when police show up
By Abby Sewell
Molalla Pioneer
The Molalla Police Department responded to a call at Molalla River Middle School at about 8:30 on Friday morning, after a 12-year-old male student made a joke about having a bomb in his duffel bag.
MPD Chief Jerry Giger said the police received a call after an MRMS teacher overheard one student ask another, “What’s in your bag?” to which the second student responded, “A bomb.”
Although the student appeared to be joking, Giger said, staff pulled him into the office and called MPD. Upon a search, the student was not found to be carrying a bomb or any weapons.
Giger said the student was apologetic when he realized the seriousness of the situation.
“The minute he knew he’d done something wrong, he folded,” Giger said. “… We couldn’t find any indication of any threat of harm. But (in light of the recent massacre at Virginia Tech) we are not and may never be at the point of taking these things lightly.”
The school did not go into lock down mode and continued on with its regularly scheduled activities for the remainder of the day.
MRMS vice principal Andy McKean said the student was sent home with his mother for evaluation and is currently out of school.
“This was a situation where the kid was making an off the cuff remark and wasn’t taking things seriously, and unfortunately you can’t say those things in today’s society,” McKean said.
By Abby Sewell
Molalla Pioneer
The Molalla Police Department responded to a call at Molalla River Middle School at about 8:30 on Friday morning, after a 12-year-old male student made a joke about having a bomb in his duffel bag.
MPD Chief Jerry Giger said the police received a call after an MRMS teacher overheard one student ask another, “What’s in your bag?” to which the second student responded, “A bomb.”
Although the student appeared to be joking, Giger said, staff pulled him into the office and called MPD. Upon a search, the student was not found to be carrying a bomb or any weapons.
Giger said the student was apologetic when he realized the seriousness of the situation.
“The minute he knew he’d done something wrong, he folded,” Giger said. “… We couldn’t find any indication of any threat of harm. But (in light of the recent massacre at Virginia Tech) we are not and may never be at the point of taking these things lightly.”
The school did not go into lock down mode and continued on with its regularly scheduled activities for the remainder of the day.
MRMS vice principal Andy McKean said the student was sent home with his mother for evaluation and is currently out of school.
“This was a situation where the kid was making an off the cuff remark and wasn’t taking things seriously, and unfortunately you can’t say those things in today’s society,” McKean said.
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