BOMB THREAT: Arrest Effected in PCMS case

An arrest has been made in the case of the bomb threat called in to Pickens County Middle School this afternoon. Other than a time determined as 12:46 p.m., all other details are as previously reported.

A portion of the release said, “Detectives were able to trace the call and arrest a juvenile for making these threats within 2 hours of the phone call. The juvenile is charged with Terroristic Threats and Acts and Disrupting a Public School.”

Pickens County Middle School confirmed it had received a bomb threat shortly after lunch this afternoon. The call came in to the school office and the protocol for such threats was immediately implemented. The call originated outside the school per a statement by Principal Dr. Chris Lemieux.

Immediately school officials began a search while law enforcement responded. Once an exterior search was completed on the school’s perimeter, Pickens County Sheriff’s Office deputies searched the interior of the school thoroughly with no results.

While no leads are immediately apparent, Lemieux expressed confidence that the Sheriff’s Office will be able to track down a suspect.

“The heroes in this situation are the office staff and the sheriff’s office. Our staff took the call and took the appropriate steps. I was real proud of them,”

Lemieux reported.

In a statement from Pickens County Schools, the bomb threat was verified. The statement further said,

“Students remained in a nonemergency lockdown while the school was searched and secured. No explosive devices were found. Students resumed normal school activity after law enforcement cleared the building. The Pickens County Sheriff’s Department is conducting an ongoing investigation.”

Sheriff Donnie Craig stated that while the investigation is ongoing and he will not make any statements at this time, they will be forthcoming with information once the situation becomes more clear. FYN was on-scene at the school at 2:30, shortly after the incident was completed, but was unable to verify any information from deputies on scene.