CINCINNATI -- A 13-year-old Withrow High School student is facing a criminal charge after police said they received calls of bogus threats against the school Thursday.
Police received nine 911 calls between 9:12 and 9:44 a.m. reporting various incidents at Withrow, prompting a lockdown at the school. Laughter could be heard in the background of one of the calls, police said in a news release.
School officials and police searched the school during the lockdown and found nothing. The school returned to normal operations around 11 a.m.
Police arrested one 13-year-old student and charged her with inducing panic. Investigators are working to identify the other callers and expect to make more arrests, police said.
"Hoax calls not only endanger students, but also cause parents undue distress," police said in a news release. "The Cincinnati Police Department takes all these matter very seriously."
Authorities across the Tri-State have charged multiple students with making threats at various local schools since a shooting at a Florida high school Feb. 14 left 17 dead and dozens injured.
- 5 Boone County students charged with making school threats
- Two more Greater Cincinnati students arrested, suspected of making school threats
- Four local high school students charged with making threats of violence
Police asked anyone with information about the callers or others involved to call the Youth Services Section at 513-681-0052 or Crime Stoppers at 513-352-3040, or to submit a tip online at tip411.com.
