Pikeland taking series of threats credible until proven otherwise
PROTECTED CONTENT
If you’re a current subscriber, log in below. If you would like to subscribe, please click the subscribe tab above.
Username and Password Help
Please enter your email and we will send you a password reset link.
A heavy police force was present at all three Pikeland Unit 10 School after a series of threats, one specifically mentioning Oct. 1, were discovered. Enhanced police present is expected at all three schools throughout the week.
“The Pikeland School District has given several informational releases over the past couple weeks regarding alleged threats within the school district.
” I wanted to take a second and explain what we are doing in response to these incidents,” Michael Starman, chief of the Pittsfield City Police, said.
In summary, the incidents have occurred during this school year and have been fully investigated.
– Several reports were received of alleged threats that originated on social media involving a “list of targeted schools”. This was investigated and determined to be a rumor and exaggeration in another jurisdiction that posed no risk to Pikeland students.
– A high school student was alleged to have made a comment to a fellow student that suggested violence toward another student/students. This student was removed from school and a report was forwarded to the State’s Attorney’s Office for review of criminal charges.
– A junior high student was alleged to have made a writing that hinted at violence toward a student(s). This student was removed from school by the school district. A report will be forwarded to the State’s Attorney’s office for review of criminal charges.
All of these incidents have been fully investigated and appropriate action has been taken.
The most recent incident involved Pikeland Community School (PCS) and is ongoing. A student or students wrote threatening writings that referenced Oct. 1 on the wall of the boys’ restroom in D Pod at Pikeland Community School. This has happened on two separate occasions.
“We immediately started an investigation. We established a timeline throughout the investigation identifying a time range that we believe the threats were written, “Starman said. “Unfortunately, the boys’ restroom is a popular spot during the school day, making it tougher to narrow down exactly who wrote it. However, we obtained a search warrant for handwriting samples of each of the subjects that appear to be the most likely suspects based on the investigation. The search warrant was served to the school district and those samples were seized. Those samples and photographs of the writings on the wall were sent to a handwriting comparison expert for review.”
Sharman said his department and other authors have conducted interviews with dozens of students, reviewed hours of camera footage, served search warrants and continue to actively work the investigation.
“Officers continued to work the investigation over the weekend and it will continue into the week.,” Starman said. “ No student has been positively identified as the suspect at this point, but we are working hard to reach that goal. Our officers have put in dozens of hours of overtime on this case and will continue to do whatever it takes to make sure this case is solved and our students are safe.”
“We appreciate and thank the Pittsfield Police Department for all its efforts in the past weeks,” Jo Campbell, superintendent at Pikeland, said. “Officers have put in dozens of hours of overtime on this case and will continue to do whatever it takes to make sure this case is solved and our students are safe. We are grateful that they continue to conduct the criminal investigation, educate the school district on safety techniques, and provide additional security.”
Our role in the situation is to conduct the criminal investigation, educate the school district on safety techniques, and provide additional security” Starman said. “The decision as to if school is cancelled or if students are expelled or suspended is the decision of the school district.
“ I certainly understand the anxiousness surrounding the October 1st date. We will have an increased law enforcement presence at all schools and are taking additional steps to do our best to ensure the safety of Pikeland students,” Campbell said. “ While I cannot release everything that we are doing for security reasons, I can assure you that we are doing everything we can to ensure that students are safe while at Pikeland schools. The goal of this release is simply to inform you of what is happening and to empower parents to make informed decisions. “
Monday’s press release was only the latest of communications from Campbell and PCS Principal Ryan Benz to parents keeping them current of the situation.
Absentee rates were higher at all three Pikeland Schools than normal Monday. It is suspected parents were reluctant to send their children.
Quincy, Hannibal, Camp Point have all received threats in the past week. An arrest was made in the Quincy situation and the rest are still be investigated.
According to Campbell, threats are considered to be credible, until law enforcement and school administration conduct as thorough investigation into the matter.
