ESPANOLA – The Espanola Police service would like to report that a 16-year-old male youth from southern Ontario is now in custody for making bomb threats and threatening Espanola High School and Chapleau High School. The youth cannot be named as per legislation under the Youth Criminal Justice Act.
Last week, both schools received threats by telephone, left in a voicemail message. The school boards and police took precautionary measures closing the schools temporarily pending further investigation. The Espanola High School building also houses A.B. Ellis Public School, École secondaire catholique Franco-Ouest, and One Tot Stop Daycare. The schools and the daycare will re-open on Tuesday, October 18. On Monday, École secondaire catholique Franco-Ouest students had been relocated to École Saint-Joseph. Student transportation will also resume.
Over the weekend, school officials and the Espanola Police Service searched the schools on the Espanola High School site. There were no suspicious items located.
Joint Investigation by the Espanola Police Service and the Ontario Provincial Police led to the identification of a 16-year-old male who is now charged with Uttering Threats to Damage Property (x3), Mischief Over $5000 (x2), Public Mischief (x2), Uttering Threats to Cause Death or Bodily Harm (x4), Identity Fraud (x2) and Providing False Information (x2). These charges pertain to the combined events last week at the Espanola High School and Chapleau High School. The youth will be in Sudbury Bail Court on Monday, October 17, 2016 to answer to his charges.
Chief Steven Edwards said there is no threat to the community of Espanola and school is now able to resume safely.
Rainbow District School Board and Conseil scolaire catholique du Nouvel-Ontario thanked the Espanola Police Service and Ontario Provincial Police for working with the school community to ensure the well-being of students and staff.
