San Angelo Police Respond to Social Media Threat at Central High School

SAN ANGELO, TX -- “See something, say something!”

Officer Tracy Gonzales, Public Relations and Media officer for the San Angelo Police Department (SAPD) held a press conference Friday to officially detail the circumstances of the bomb threat that was called into Central High School on Tuesday.

The report of the threat was received by a student via snapchat. An off duty police officer working security at the school was notified of the information and from there the investigation began.

The suspect was found and subsequently charged with making a terroristic threat involving serious bodily injury.

He is now being held at the Tom Green County Juvenile Justice Center.

“Parents of the suspect were involved and there is full cooperation.”

Gonzalez talked about the overwhelming nature of social media and how law enforcement departments across the country suffer from the same difficulty, which is “not having enough personnel to sift through so much information.”

“Our parents want answers,” she continued, “it is safe to send their children to school.”

Based on reports from two parents, no notification was given of the impending threat. Gonzalez went on to say that “we won’t be discussing that part of the investigation,” although technically parent notification is public information and not related to any one incident.

The school was not evacuated.

In an earlier interview, San Angelo Independent School District Superintendent Dr. Carl Dethloff talked about safety measures that were in place, but also the “need to get to the bottom of why students do these things.”

As for student response, “Kids are stepping up and coming forward,” said Gonzalez. With reference to the bomb threat incident, “that student should be applauded for what she did.”

“Even if they don’t think it isn’t something important. Maybe it isn’t, but it’s better to report it.”