The Stephens County Sheriff's Office said it recently investigated a series of threats that were made against Stephens County Middle School over the weekend of March 22 and 24.
The agency said in a social media post that the initial incident involved pre-recorded phone calls that had been received by several students at the school. The calls allegedly detailed threats within the school premises. Deputies, Investigators and School Resource Officers quickly began an investigation where they interviewed all parties involved and conducted a comprehensive sweep of the school facilities.
It was determined that the calls were a prank and the school was found to be secure.
Further threats came to light on March 25, which echoed the previous incident. Law enforcement again responded and determined the threats were a hoax.
Finally, on March 26, rumors of threats surfaced on social media, originating from a third-party account circulating via a group text. The sheriff's office again launched an investigation and determined it was another hoax.
"The safety of the students and staff are paramount, and we take all threats seriously," Sheriff Randy Shirley said.
The agency encouraged community members, students, and families to report any suspicious activity to local law enforcement. The agency also expressed disappointment over the spread of the information on social media platforms.
"Such actions only serve to incite panic and jeopardize the safety of our community," Shirley said. "As we have seen recently, the spread of unfound malicious information could result in actions taken by the school and/or possible criminal charges."
The sheriff's office said it will continue to work in collaboration with the Stephens County School System to provide accurate and timely information to the public.
"We are dedicated to ensuring the safety and security of our schools," Shirley said. "Our ongoing efforts underscore our unwavering commitment to this mission."
