A Los Angeles County Sheriff's car sits in front of of La Mesa Junior High following a threat scrawled on a water tank behind the school. Cory Rubin/The Signal
In a statement released to the public, La Mesa Junior High School Principal Michele Krantz informed parents and students that campus staff had found a threat written on a small water tank on the back of campus Wednesday afternoon.
“The message was difficult to read as it had been scribbled out,” the letter dated April 24 at 3:45 p.m. read. “The threat did mention April 25.”
The letter says that La Mesa faculty immediately contacted law enforcement, who then began to investigate the issue.
“At this time, we do not have specific details to share other than the fact that the threat was indirect and did not mention any specific person,” Krantz said in the letter. “Law enforcement, in an abundance of caution, have arranged for an expanded presence in the area (for Thursday).”
An undisclosed number of school resource deputies are on La Mesa’s campus today, and the school remains open, according to Lt. Doug Morhoffm, of the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station.
“There have been no arrests made, and COBRA detectives are investigating,” said Shirley Miller, a spokeswoman with the SCV Sheriff’s Station. COBRA detectives are generally the team of law enforcement personnel who handle juvenile-related crimes. “They have extra personnel over there today.”
Miller added that if there was a critical situation at hand, the SCV Sheriff’s Station would be advising the public or putting out a notice.
“At this point there is no lockdown,” Miller said. “They are finishing up their investigation and once they are done with their investigation, then we will be able to update everybody.”
A text-a-tip hotline has been made available at 661-524-5166 to anyone with information about the incident, and parents can also contact the school directly at 661-250-0022.
“If you or your student have any information regarding this matter, please consider contacting La Mesa administration or the local authorities,” the letter said. “Safety is always our top priority.”
On Monday night, deputies detained a male juvenile from La Mesa Junior High on charges of criminal threats, after he allegedly made statements threatening violence against the school.
Students are no longer allowed to use cellphones at La Mesa Junior High School, according to La Mesa Principal Michelle Krantz, who described the school’s new “no phone” policy at Wednesday night’s William S. Hart Union High School District board meeting.
Junior high schools across the Santa Clarita Valley began the school year implementing a “personal device” policy that requires students to keep cell phones and other electronic devices in their backpacks during school hours.
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