13-year-old detained in Park City school threat hoax, police say
PARK CITY UT Sept 11 2020 — A 13-year-old Park City boy is the latest student to learn that school threats are taken very seriously by police, even if the threat is meant to be a joke.
The Summit County Sheriff’s Office received information Thursday from a school administrator and “multiple astute parents and students” that a post on Instagram made a reference to “shooting up” Ecker Hill Middle School on Friday.
Deputies worked through the night and located the boy at 2:30 a.m. Friday. The boy told investigators that “his threats were meant as a joke,” according to a statement from the sheriff’s office.
Investigators determined the boy did not have the means to carry out his threat, but he was still referred to 3rd District Juvenile Court for investigation of making threats of violence.
“We remind all parents to regularly monitor their children’s social media platforms, teach them about proper and acceptable use of social media, and to report any threats of violence, bullying or other criminal activity. The Summit County Sheriff’s Office takes all threats to our schools seriously and will thoroughly investigate and hold responsible any person who purports threats of violence or criminal activity,” the statement said.
