Modesto-area schools safe to attend, police say after investigating social media threats
After investigating school threats that circulated on social media across the nation and locally, police determined Modesto-area schools are safe for students to attend.
Modesto Police Department spokeswoman Sharon Bear said threats made via social media over the weekend that targeted a “Central High School” did not refer to Central Valley High School in Ceres.
Downey High School and Hanshaw Middle School were added to the social media posts about Central Valley High School, Modesto City Schools spokewoman Becky Fortuna confirmed. The threats against these schools were deemed not credible, according to Bear.
“It looks like it’s a pretty generic post that got spread by multiple people,” Bear said.
Modesto police are increasing their presence during school hours as students arrive or leave, Bear said. Ceres Unified did the same on Monday to “ensure students’ safety and peace of mind,” according to a message the district sent families.
Downey and Hanshaw administrators sent a message to families saying staff “received several reports” of threats made against the schools through social media. MPD’s “extensive investigation into the allegations of this threat” found it was not credible threat, according to the message.
After receiving phone calls from worried parents, the district sent a message to families at other schools to emphasize that the threats were not credible, Fortuna said.
Ceres Unified notified high school families on Sunday that there was no credible threat to Ceres schools.
Some Modesto schools reported that parents called in to keep their students home Monday, Fortuna said via email. Ceres Unified spokeswoman Beth Jimenez said via email that preliminary numbers indicate ”some impact on attendance at Central Valley High School, and nominal impact at other schools.”
High schools across the country with “Central” in their names are increasing security following a post threatening to shoot a “Central High School,” according to media reports.
Reportedly, the threats originated in St. Joseph, Missouri, and were referring to the Central High School there. Three juveniles were arrested in connection with the threats.
