In a release from the Athens Police Department and Chief Anthony Pressnell, a 10-year-old fifth grade student at Athens Intermediate School was arrested Friday, Sept. 13, for making a “terrorist threat.”
“We received a call from Superintendent (Beth) Patton, after they had been alerted by students at Athens Middle School, of a student at Athens Intermediate sending a threat in a group text,” Pressnell told The News Courier. “Investigators went out and determined where the individual lived and arrested him at his residence.”
The release stated that APD was first notified of the threat at about 11 a.m. When investigators found the student, they talked with him before arresting and booking him, according to Pressnell.
The arrest came during an online epidemic of school threats from across the nation, most of which were circulated on various social media platforms such as Facebook, Snapchat and TikTok, last week.
The Limestone County Sheriff’s Office arrested five individuals last week for making terrorist threats in the second degree on county schools, students and staff.
Pressnell mentioned in the release that the student’s father talked to him Thursday night about not getting involved in sharing or discussing through social media these types of threats.
“It seemed like last week was just a terrible week for threats on schools around the nation,” Pressnell said. “We got alerts from places in Athens, Georgia, and different other locations. In today’s world, with the number of school shootings in the US, every threat has to be taken seriously. This is not something we can cut people a break on, it’s going to be a charge every time.”
Athens City Schools released a statement asking parents to take the time to reinforce to their children that ACS also takes all threats seriously and “will not tolerate any sort of threat.”
The school system said in its statement that numerous threats have been shared this week through social media. Most of these threats originated in other states, but they continue to fuel fear in Athens students as they are shared over and over online.
“Again, please remind your children not to share threats on social media, and to report them to an administrator or the superintendent,” the school statement said. “We are thankful for the students and parents who have reported potential threats.”
Pressnell commended the school resource officers, school staff and his department for reacting quickly to investigate the threats.
“I appreciate the working relationship we have so that we can act swiftly,” Pressnell said.
Athens Mayor Ronnie Marks also commended the school system and APD for their work on the “heartbreaking” situation on social media.
“It’s a little bit heartbreaking,” Marks said. “With the availability of social media, people may think something is funny or will even get them attention, so they just throw it out there. Any and all threats are taken seriously, regardless of who they come from. All of us parents and grandparents need to talk to our children about the damage they can cause online.”