Greater Sudbury Police have arrested a young person in relation to a threatening message written on a bathroom wall at l’École secondaire catholique l’Horizon in Val Caron.
The threat was found on Monday and GSPS maintained a presence at the school the next day in the wake of the threat.
“Just prior to police being called, students located a message warning of a school shooting on Tuesday,” GSPS said in a news release on May 6. “The message was written in a bathroom at the school. No other details were included in the brief message. The students immediately notified administration who contacted police.”
GSPS spokesperson Kaitlyn Dunn said Monday a school resource officer (SRO) was assigned to spend the day at l’Horizon “to support staff and students, as well as follow up on the ongoing investigation into the origin of the message.”
“The officer who is present already has an existing rapport with students and staff through his role as a SRO,” Dunn said. “He is present not only for visibility and as part of the investigation but to also provide support and reassurance to students and staff.”
While investigating to determine the credibility of the threat, an unmarked police vehicle with two officers maintained a presence in the area of the school on the morning the threat was found, Dunn said.
On May 10, GSPS said they have arrested a youth as a result and charged the young person with a charge of Uttering Threats and Mischief – Interrupt or Interfere with Lawful Use, Enjoyment, or Operation of Property.
“Based on the investigation and in consultation with administration and the youth’s parent, the youth has been referred to a diversion program under the Youth Criminal Justice Act,” GSPS said.
GSPS Staff Sergeant Sherry Young explained that the diversion program, or Extra Judicial Measures, is aimed at youth between the ages of 12 and 17, and is an alternative to prosecution by dealing with criminal offences through community-based sanctions aimed at holding the young offender to account.
Those eligible for the program meet with a community justice worker for an assessment and to be assigned sanctions. The worker also monitors to ensure completion of the program and reports their findings back to police.
Because the person charged is a young offender, their identity is protected under the Youth Criminal Justice Act.
“We would like to thank the students, staff and administration of l’École secondaire catholique l’Horizon and the mental health team from Conseil scolaire catholique Nouvelon for the co-operation throughout this matter,” GSPS said.
Following the initial publication of this report, Sudbury.com reached out to Conseil scolaire catholique Nouvelon for their response to the threat. We received the following brief written statement.
"The safety and well-being of our students, staff members, and community is our top priority," reads the statement. "As this is a Greater Sudbury Police Service matter and an active police investigation is ongoing, we kindly request media inquiries to be directed to the GSPS."
Other threats found
Threats were also found in washrooms at two local high schools recently — at St. Benedict Catholic Secondary School in April and at l’École secondaire catholique l’Horizon earlier this week.
In the case of the St. Benedict incident, police later reported finding those responsible for writing the messages on a bathroom stall and determined there was no valid threat to the school.
Given there's now been two threats at Conseil scolaire catholique Nouvelon schools this week, Sudbury.com requested an interview with Nouvelon director of education Paul Henry.
The school board has declined our interview request. They did issue a short written statement, which reads as follows: "The safety and well-being of our students, staff members, and community is our top priority. As this is a Greater Sudbury Police Service matter and an active police investigation is ongoing, we kindly request media inquiries to be directed to the GSPS."
A letter to the École Notre-Dame Hanmer school community was also issued May 8, in which it described the incident, and said the school would remain open today with police presence, as well as social workers on hand, although parents may wish to keep their children at home.
