NAPLES, Maine — A 15-year-old boy was charged with the crime of terrorizing, then released back to his parents after he made a bomb threat at Lake Region High School Wednesday.
The crime is intensified to a felony by state statute, as the threat caused the evacuation of a building. Students at the high school and vocational school were sent home for the day.
The Cumberland County Sheriff's Office said it received the call at 10:59 a.m. Investigators determined that this threat was a hoax and no explosives were placed inside or around the school. Authorities are continuing to work with school officials to determine if other students were involved in planning or making the threat. The matter will be turned over to the Cumberland County District Attorney’s Office.
The school posted the following message on its website Wednesday:
Good Morning. Due to a Bomb Threat message written on a Bathroom Wall in the High School and to be as cautious as possible. Students at the High School and Vocational School will be sent home for the day. Buses will be heading out taking students home within the next 45 minutes. The Local Police will conduct a full search of the Building to make sure this in not a real threat. More information will be sent out later today, the Students at the Middle School and both Elementary Schools are not affected and will continue their school day. Thank you.
Lauren Faia, a senior at Lake Regional High School who studies automotives at the Vocational School, said everything seemed normal when she had lunch around 10:45 a.m., but shortly after getting to her class after lunch, teachers told the students to stay in the classroom.
"Obviously there were rumors going around," Lauren told NEWS CENTER Maine. She said some of her classmates were crying, but she said she stayed calm. "I was more worried about the vehicles in my shop and my friends," Lauren said. "My teachers are awesome and I trust them. They would do anything for us and wouldn't put us in harm."
Students were bussed off of school grounds; Lauren said the school allowed students who drove to the school to drive themselves. Lauren said she's home in Bridgton, and hasn't been given information about what happened or if students are expected to go back to finish the school day.