CAPE ELIZABETH (NEWS CENTER Maine) — A message posted online worried police enough for them to track down and arrest a Cape Elizabeth High School student.
The arrest took place around 6:30 a.m. on Monday at an apartment building on Minott Street in South Portland. A SWAT team was standing by to offer their help to local officers. But police said they took the 17-year-old male into custody without resistance. He faces a charge of terrorizing.
Cape Elizabeth Police Chief Neil Williams said the investigation began upon being contacted by Cape Elizabeth school administrators the previous night. They brought an online message to the attention of police that was flagged by concerned students. Police agreed that the message was troubling and set about to find its writer, culminating in the arrest on Monday.
In a written statement, Cape Elizabeth High School Principal Jeffrey Shedd said, "Although there was no direct threat to the school community or any individuals or groups within the school in the social media postings, there were images of firearms and generalized expressions of anger."
Freshman George Haffenreffer was getting ready for school when he received the school closing email.
“It is pretty depressing to hear about that type of stuff, kind of the world we live in that I have to except,” he said.
Haffenreffer says he was glad to hear that other students reported the threatening posts to school officials. So was his mother. She’s a teacher at the elementary school.
"It was very disturbing, and I'm very grateful for the people who came forward and reported this student because this is serious," she said.
Even though the student arrested attends the high school, all schools were closed. Heather Wacksman is the parent of a kindergarten student who did not have classes today because of the threat.
“I think in light of recent events I was certainly OK with the decision. Better to play it safe than to be sorry in the long run,” Wacksman said.
Shedd said the author of the troubling messages was released into the care of a parent in another community. The student is not permitted on school grounds. The staff has been advised to notify administration if he is seen to be violating that ban.
Classes will resume on Tuesday. Shedd said support services would be available for any students who need help.