Student arrested in connection with bomb threat

RAVENA-COEYMANS-SELKIRK — A 15-year-old student at Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk High School has been arrested and charged in connection with a verbal bomb threat.

The student has not been identified and was arrested Tuesday, Nov. 27, after allegedly making the threat against the school, according to the Albany County Sheriff’s Office.

The male student was charged with making a terroristic threat and has been suspended from school.

District Superintendent Dr. Brian Bailey issued a letter Wednesday morning to parents in the school district, claiming the “non-specific, verbal bomb threat” was made in the presence of a member of the staff, outside the high school.

“We take threats seriously and collaborated with law enforcement, who visited the student’s home late yesterday afternoon,” according to the letter.

Bailey continued that an investigation indicated “there was no evidence of a viable threat against any person or property.”

However, he added that such threats are against the district’s “Code of Conduct,” and that the district worked with law enforcement to ensure the safety of students, staff and the community.

“With the assistance of our two School Resource Officers, both the district and law enforcement have taken appropriate steps to address this issue, including the student’s arrest,” Bailey confirmed.

On Wednesday morning there was a meeting of the high school’s crisis response team before the start of the school day to assess the situation. Information on handling the issue was shared via email with school staff in how to support students.

“These types of terroristic threats have no place in our school or community. The consequences for making such threats may be dire,” according to Bailey’s letter. “There is some relief in determining that this was not a viable threat, but the lesson that we reinforced with students today is to continue to be vigilant and to say something if they see or hear something that concerns them.”