Published: 17 January 2012
A 14-year-old boy was arrested Jan. 12 by Cherokee County School Police, following investigation of a reported plan to bring a gun to Dean Rusk Middle School.
Rumors circulating on social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter the weekend of Jan. 7 indicated there was talk of a student bringing a gun to school the week of Jan. 9-13. When asked, Cherokee County School District officials said they were aware of the rumors before the school week started.
The student was withdrawn from school enrollment the morning of Jan. 9 by his parents, school officials said. After a joint Cherokee County School District police and CCSD investigation, the student was arrested Jan. 12, district spokeswoman Carrie Budd said. He has been detained by the Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice, she said.
Budd said charges against the student are one count of disruption of public school and one count of terroristic threats/acts.
Dean Rusk Middle School Principal Dr. Adrian Thomason sent a letter home with students Jan. 9 informing parents of the investigation; another letter was sent home Jan. 12, as well as posted on the school Web site, which stated an arrest had been made.
Thomason said, based on the results of the investigation, school administration also will take action as the incident relates to the school district’s student discipline code.
“Parents are encouraged to discuss with their children the serious nature and consequences of making threats of violence against others, regardless of whether there is intent to carry out such threats,” the letter states. “ Such threats are not only a violation of the school district’s student discipline code, but can also result in criminal charges. Dean Rusk will not allow behavior of this nature to diminish the efforts of everyone involved in ensuring that it remains a safe and high-achieving school.”
At press time Monday, the initial incident report was not complete.
