A male student from Pioneer Ridge Middle School was arrested Thursday, Jan. 23, for making threats of violence to fellow students via social media.
According to a press release from the Chaska Police Department, the school’s resource officers partnered with school staff to initially investigate the threats and “determined there was no immediate threat to school safety.”
Chaska police officers then executed a search warrant at the juvenile’s residence in Chaska and learned that the juvenile had no means to carry out the threatened use of firearms.
“We take school safety seriously and are committed to working with our schools, students and parents to ensure a safe and healthy learning environment,” the press release reads. “Threats of violence are never tolerated in Chaska, and we will continue to take immediate action to protect our community.”
Following the incident, Eastern Carver County Schools Superintendent Erin Rathke sent an email message to parents and the general community Thursday evening.
“As a parent myself, I know that messages home about threats at school immediately raise my anxiety even when, as a district leader, I know all of the work that goes on behind the scenes to keep students and staff safe,” she wrote. “I have made a commitment to you as your superintendent to be as transparent as I can be and communicate when situations arise that impact our sense of safety as a school and district community and that’s why I’m communicating with you today.”
She recounted how district leaders worked diligently with local police to investigate the situation when first notified of the threat.
“The student was not at school, and thanks to the work of the CPD we were quickly able to ensure there was no threat to the building, and school continued as scheduled,” Rathke wrote. “As always, we are grateful for their support, care and professionalism in their assistance.”
Rathke noted that the district recently held a community conversation about its policies and procedures related to such public safety situations. To view the presentation, follow the link https://www.district112.org/district/safety.
