WTNH News Channel 8 / News / 1999

	Teen arrested for Internet threat against school (Waterbury-WTNH) _ Waterbury officials call it a prank gone awry, but they're not laughing. A 15-year old is under arrest on charges of charged with making a bomb threat over the Internet at the Crosby High school complex. This follows town hall's enacting of tough new security measures at all Waterbury schools, including banning all but transparent book bags. News Channel 8's Verna Collins reports. Crosby High School and the police have sent out a strong message that bomb threats, whether they're serious or not, won't be tolerated. And now officials say they'll do everything to make sure students don't have any reason to feel that they can't be safe in school. This was a special day for Laure-Lyne Johnson. She was inducted into Crosby High School's National Honor Society. But for the past few weeks, happy moments like these have been overshadowed by what some call teen pranks - bomb threats that have come into the school. But Laure-Lyne's mother says the threats are anything but funny. Lyne Johnson: "It's not a funny prank, and if it's for real, it needs to be investigated. He should be charged with something. And the Waterbury police force isn't taking it lightly either. Earlier today, police arrested a 15 year old Crosby student they say threatened to blow up the school sometime Friday. They say he wrote that threat in a chat room on the Internet. Superintendent Ed Flaherty, Waterbury Police Dept.: "We downloaded that computer today, and as a result of the information contained on that computer, and as a result of other information gathered during the investigation we were able to apply for an arrest warrant." The city's mayor admits some parents may be afraid to send their kids to school Friday, but he believes the school is safe. Mayor Philip Giordano, Waterbury: "They still have excused absences if they chose not to go to school tomorrow, but I would still encourage them to go to school tomorrow." Laure-Lyne Johnson says she'll be among those going to school tomorrow. Laure-Lyne Johnson: "I was scared at first, but now I'm positive that we're going to be safe, so I'm coming to school tomorrow." Earlier this week, school officials put a strict security policy in place. Through the end of the year, students will not use school lockers. They must instead carry all their books in clear plastic bags. Most students say it may be inconvenient, but at least they feel safe. "There's police patrolling outside. Everything's secured, and they're all assuring us that everything will be ok." Extra police will be on hand Friday just in case. Today's News Page. WTNH Home Page. ©1999 WTNH/WTNH-DT A LIN station.

Teen arrested for Internet threat against school
(Waterbury-WTNH) _ Waterbury officials call it a prank gone awry, but they're not laughing. A 15-year old is under arrest on charges of charged with making a bomb threat over the Internet at the Crosby High school complex. This follows town hall's enacting of tough new security measures at all Waterbury schools, including banning all but transparent book bags.
News Channel 8's Verna Collins reports.

Crosby High School and the police have sent out a strong message that bomb threats, whether they're serious or not, won't be tolerated. And now officials say they'll do everything to make sure students don't have any reason to feel that they can't be safe in school.

This was a special day for Laure-Lyne Johnson. She was inducted into Crosby High School's National Honor Society. But for the past few weeks, happy moments like these have been overshadowed by what some call teen pranks - bomb threats that have come into the school. But Laure-Lyne's mother says the threats are anything but funny.

Lyne Johnson: "It's not a funny prank, and if it's for real, it needs to be investigated. He should be charged with something.

And the Waterbury police force isn't taking it lightly either. Earlier today, police arrested a 15 year old Crosby student they say threatened to blow up the school sometime Friday. They say he wrote that threat in a chat room on the Internet.

Superintendent Ed Flaherty, Waterbury Police Dept.: "We downloaded that computer today, and as a result of the information contained on that computer, and as a result of other information gathered during the investigation we were able to apply for an arrest warrant."

The city's mayor admits some parents may be afraid to send their kids to school Friday, but he believes the school is safe.

Mayor Philip Giordano, Waterbury: "They still have excused absences if they chose not to go to school tomorrow, but I would still encourage them to go to school tomorrow."

Laure-Lyne Johnson says she'll be among those going to school tomorrow.

Laure-Lyne Johnson: "I was scared at first, but now I'm positive that we're going to be safe, so I'm coming to school tomorrow."

Earlier this week, school officials put a strict security policy in place. Through the end of the year, students will not use school lockers. They must instead carry all their books in clear plastic bags. Most students say it may be inconvenient, but at least they feel safe.

"There's police patrolling outside. Everything's secured, and they're all assuring us that everything will be ok."

Extra police will be on hand Friday just in case.

Today's News Page.

WTNH Home Page.