Students held in spate of threats against metro-area schools

Probes under way in Arapahoe, Adams, Douglas

Charley Able, Rocky Mountain News

Published April 25, 2007 at midnight

Text size

More Education

More stories »

Metro-area law enforcement officers dealt with continued threats against schools Tuesday, the latest in a weeklong spate of disruptions after the Virginia Tech shootings and the Columbine anniversary.

The Adams County Sheriff's Office announced the arrest of two 14-year-old Clear Lake Middle School students who allegedly threatened to commit a large-scale shooting at Ranum High School.

The two teenage boys were arrested Monday at school by deputies investigating reports of the alleged threats, which the Sheriff's Office described as "credible."

Both were being held at the Adams County Juvenile Detention Facility while the investigation continues.

"Once again, we are faced with a situation in which our children are being threatened," Adams County Sheriff Doug Darr said in a written statement. "I want to make it clear we will not tolerate threats against our children and we will aggressively investigate and pursue criminal charges against anyone who threatens the members of our community."

Arapahoe County officials, meanwhile, were investigating an alleged threat by a Falcon Creek Middle School student who reportedly said he would "shoot everyone during lunch period," according to a Sheriff's Office report.

The 13-year-old male reportedly made the threat after complaining that other students had cut him off in the lunch line.

The suspect was taken to the Arapahoe County Juvenile Assessment Center and faces two misdemeanor charges, including menacing.

And in Castle Rock, a Douglas County magistrate set $25,000 cash bond for a Ponderosa High School student accused of setting off a small explosion near the school Friday, the eighth anniversary of the Columbine High School killings.

The school was evacuated about 9 a.m. Friday, and classes were canceled for the rest of the day.

The 17-year-old, whose name is being withheld by the Rocky Mountain News because he has not been charged as an adult, has been in detention since his arrest.

He is expected to be formally charged when he returns to court May 8.

Assistant District Attorney Leslie Hansen asked Magistrate Louis Gresh to set a $50,000 cash bond in the case, saying the amount represents the approximate cost of the police response to the homemade device allegedly set off by the suspect.

"The date (of the incident) coincided with a very significant date in Colorado," Hanson said, referring to the April 20, 1999, Columbine tragedy, in which two young gunmen - Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold - killed 12 of their fellow students and a teacher before taking their own lives.

Defense attorney Robert Wareham argued for a lesser bond, siding with the teen's pretrial assessment, which recommended a personal-recognizance bond.

"He poses no danger to the community whatsoever," Wareham told Gresh before the magistrate ordered bond be set at $25,000.

Wareham said the device consisted of a pop bottle containing reactive household chemicals.

Subscribe to the Rocky Mountain News