EATON — Students at Eaton High/Middle School were evacuated and eventually sent home on Monday, April 17, due to a bomb threat written on a high school restroom wall.
After an initial investigation of the written bomb threat, Eaton High School and Eaton Middle School were cleared and found safe by the Eaton Police Division.
After receiving the call from school officials at approximately 10 a.m., EPD officials reported to the school and spoke with school administrators, and decided to evacuate the campus and follow their safety procedures, Sgt. Eric Beeghly said Monday afternoon.
At 11 a.m., Monday, a message from the school district explained, “Due to a bomb threat message written in one of the high school restrooms and our desire to keep all students safe, we are evacuating both the high school and middle school facilities.”
The high school bus riders and all middle school students were directed to the Brethren Church on Camden Road. Buses then transported students home. All high school student drivers were dismissed to go home.
“Police officers are on the premises,” the message said. “Our goal is to keep students safe during this process and police investigation.”
“We called in bomb detecting dogs to search the campus, the stadium, the Wellness Center, and the ball fields,” Beeghly said. “Nothing suspicious was found.”
EPD officials are continuing their investigation into who wrote the threat.
“We take this very seriously,” Beeghly said of threats of this nature. “They’re serious charges,” he said, “Including inducing panic. And a lot of resources were used.”
Anyone who has information pertaining to the writing of the threat is encouraged to contact the EPD.
Beeghly thanked the Preble County Sheriff’s Department, the Eaton Fire & EMS, Montgomery County Sheriff Department’s K-9 unit, Dayton Airport Police and the Dayton Police Department for their help in the investigation.
“Please discuss with your child that writing any type of threat with serious or non-serious intent will be investigated and prosecuted fully,” school officials said in the note on the Eaton Community Schools website. “We want to express our appreciation to the Eaton Police Department and the Preble County Sheriff’s Office for their quick response. It is also important to recognize the supportive action by all staff members, the cooperation of students and families during dismissal, and the support of the Brethren Church for allowing us to use their facility.”
