A New Richmond High School student was arrested and suspended from school Wednesday afternoon following a threat posted the night before on the anonymous social media app Yik Yak. The student was not identified.
The threat resulted in a search by New Richmond police, school administrators and high school staff of all students entering the high school Wednesday.
“The student was arrested by the New Richmond Police Department and removed from the building ,” said Supt. Adam Bird. “It’s an example of great cooperation between our police and high school staff.”
“Last night a community member brought to my attention something that was on the app Yik Yak that said ‘Watch out New Richmond I am about shoot up the school 2morro’ and we immediately contacted police,” said New Richmond High School principal Mark Bailey.
Bailey, assistant principal Phil Heflin, district Supt. Bird and teachers Jim Robinson and Sue Griffin assisted police in the search of approximately 700 students. Clermont County Sheriff deputies also assisted before being called away for an emergency.
“It took less than 45 minutes to perform the search and all classes started on time,” said Bird. “The students were calm and cooperative and everything went smoothly.”
New Richmond police remained on the scene and performed bag searches for students arriving late due to junior and senior options and post-secondary college classes.
“We realize that parents’ No. 1 priority is their child’s safety and that has to come before learning,” said Bailey. “Students have to feel safe and have to know that we take all threats seriously.”
Bailey banned cell phone use in the high school last week after vulgar and mean Yik Yak posts by students. The App is banned throughout the district via its WiFi network and Yik Yak has put up a block on cell towers within 1.5 miles of the high school. The threat has been turned over to New Richmond police for investigation.