By SALINA POST
On Tuesday, Sept. 24, Salina South Middle School administration and officers with the Salina Police Department (SPD) responded to a threat made by a student against the school. In a message to families, Principal Dustin Dooley confirmed that both the school and the police department acted swiftly to address the situation.
The incident took place during the fourth period, around the noon hour, and involved a 13-year-old male student who made threatening remarks to other students.
According to SPD Cpt. David Villanueva, the student told classmates not to come to school the next day because there would be a shooting. These comments were corroborated through an investigation by the school's resource officer and staff, who spoke to multiple students.
As a result, the student was arrested and taken to the juvenile detention facility in Junction City on charges of criminal threat.
SPD did not release the name of the suspect, who is a minor, in accordance with 18 U.S. Code § 5038.
Villanueva emphasized the seriousness with which SPD addresses these types of threats.
"The school alerted us immediately, and we were able to investigate and ensure the safety of the school," Villanueva said. He also noted the strong cooperation between USD 305 administration and SPD throughout the investigation.
"From the principal to the staff of the district, everyone worked together to address this threat," Villanueva said.
The school district follows strict protocols for reporting any crimes that occur on school grounds, especially those involving serious violent threats. Captain Villanueva added that while schools typically handle lower-level offenses internally, SPD is called in for any felony or violent crime threats to ensure a thorough criminal investigation.
In his message to families, South Middle School Principal Dooley urged parents to talk to their students about the gravity of making any kind of threatening statements and to encourage them to speak to a trusted adult if they see or hear something concerning.
"It takes all of us to keep our school safe," Dooley said.
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Original Post
On Sept. 24, Salina South Middle School administration and officers with the Salina Police Department (SPD) addressed a threat made by a student against the school. In a message to families, Principal Dustin Dooley confirmed that both the school and the Salina Police Department responded swiftly to the situation.
Below is the message that was sent out to South Middle School families.
Dear South Middle School Families,
Today, South Middle School (SMS) administration was made aware that a student was making threats against SMS. The Salina Police Department and SMS administration identified and located the responsible student. Following the investigation, appropriate legal and disciplinary action will be taken.
Thank you to those who came forward and shared the information with us.
We ask that you have a conversation with your student about the serious nature of any type of threatening statement. Encourage them to speak to an adult at the school if they hear or see something of concern. It takes all of us to keep our school safe.
Sincerely,
Dustin Dooley, Principal
South Middle School