FINNEY COUNTY—Law enforcement and USD 457 officials are investigating a bomb threat and have made an arrest.
On February 20, Garden City High School received a phone call from an unknown individual indicating there was a bomb inside the school, according to Garden City Police. All students and staff were immediately evacuated, and local law enforcement and first responders responded accordingly and searched the school.
After a thorough investigation by law enforcement, no threats to the students, staff, or school were discovered, and no explosives were located. Through further investigation, Officers were able to determine that 16-year-old Villegas of Syracuse, Kansas, was the individual who made the bomb threat.
On April 26, police located Villegas at his residence and took him into custody without incident. A search of the residence was conducted, where Officers located evidence of the crime.
The Hamilton County Sheriff's Office also assisted with the arrest. Villegas has no direct ties to Garden City Public Schools.
Villegas is being held in the Southwest Kansas Regional Juvenile Detention Center on requested charges of Aggravated Criminal Threat and Unlawful Use of a Communication Device.