Bakersfield Police Department arrests 13-year-old in connection to school threats

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — On Thursday the Bakersfield Police Department announced the arrest of a 13-year-old boy in connection to social media threats made towards a local junior high school.

According to a statement released by the BPD, officers began an investigation into social media threats made against Thompson Junior High School students on September 26th. On October 10th, authorities identified the suspect responsible for the threats and arrested him for "criminal threats and causing the false report of an emergency."

"Several posts making threats towards Kern County schools have been made this school year," said the BPD in a statement. "As a result of these posts, several students have been arrested for criminal threats. Parents of students attending the involved schools have voiced their concerns, and at times have been reluctant to send their children to school due to the threatening posts."

The BPD went on to state "Threats related to school shootings are taken very seriously and any potential threat should be immediately reported to law enforcement. Students should also be reminded to say something to parents, school officials or law enforcement when they see a threat at school or online."