MIDDLETOWN >> The Middletown Unified School District (MUSD) is currently in the process of filing a restraining order against the former Middletown High School (MHS) student who made a threat against his previous institution Saturday. Because of the threat, 25 percent of the total student body stayed away from their classes the following Monday.
News of the upcoming legal action was confirmed by MUSD Superintendent Catherine Stone. She’s waiting to get the document for the district’s attorney so she can sign and file it with Lake County Superior Court.
In the meantime, the Sonoma County suspect — whose name and background was withheld due to juvenile privacy laws — was advised by his town’s police and the Lake County Sheriff’s Office to stay away from MHS. If the teenager does set foot on its grounds, LCSO Public Information Officer and Lt. Steve Brooks said law enforcement will take action.
The LCSO, Brooks added, has had at least one deputy on the property since Monday and will continue to do so until it and administrators no longer feel its services necessary.
So far, the campus has been quiet. In fact, the LCSO told MHS administrators Monday that it was safe to hold regularly scheduled classes because the suspect did not have access to a weapon.
“There are no suspicious things I’m aware of,” the PIO claimed, adding that investigators discovered he didn’t have access to weapons. “The sheriff’s office is still going to keep monitoring the area, though.”
The agencies presence has also eased concerns across the board, according to Stone’s observations when she visited MHS Wednesday — the first regular school day since the school-wide absence. Tuesday was a planned school holiday due to an in-service day for teachers.
“Today was just fine,” she said.
When asked about the welfare of the students, however, she said wasn’t really sure. School principal Bill Roderick also did not return requests for comment on the subject despite multiple requests.
But regardless of their pupils’ feelings, Stone said they will consider these recent events and see if there is a need to change district policy.
“Everyone is well trained but it’s an opportunity to review things,” she said. “Our number one priority is keeping kids safe and that’s what we’re doing.”
Meanwhile, the LCSO is still investigating the matter. The teen wasn’t taken into custody when officers visited his residence over the weekend, but that doesn’t mean he is immune from future arrest or charges.
“It’s definitely ongoing,” Brooks said about the case.
According to multiple sources, the threat was made via a post on the social media app Instagram, Although the exact time of its creation wasn’t clear, it was eventually discovered by a unidentified MHS staff member who was made aware of it Saturday by one of the people tagged in the posting. MUSD was notified shortly after, proceeding to call police and notify parents.
The full details of the post were not made available to the public — just minor aspects. For instance, the LCSO report quoted the suspect threatening to “murder all of you.”
However, investigators do not currently believe the people tagged in the post to be specific target. They hypothesize the threats were directed towards the school in general.
There is one confirmed exception: principal Roderick.
“I believe it was very vague,” the lieutenant noted. “But his name was mentioned.”
Further details about Roderick or the investigation weren’t released. The suspect’s identity was kept anonymous because he was reported to be a minor.
