Polk authorities to address rise in school threats

POLK COUNTY, Fla. — Polk County officials are responding to a recent rise in school threats.

According to the school district, more than 20 students have been arrested and charged with second-degree felonies for making threats just this school year.

Superintendent Fred Heid and Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd will hold a news conference Thursday to discuss the threats and provide a message to students and parents.

“Any potential threat will be taken seriously,” Judd said ahead of the news conference while discussing the threats. “Even something like a gun emoji will be perceived as a threat and can very well land you in jail.”

Heid echoed the sheriff’s comments, adding that “written threats will also lead to expulsion from school or placement into an alternative education program.”

Polk County isn’t the only district in the Bay area working to make sure kids and staffers are safe in school.

Hillsborough County schools have received 181 false threats since Sept. 4.

So far, none of the threats have appeared to have any validity.

Still, Newsome High School was placed on lock down last Friday for nearly five hours while the threat was investigated.

On Monday, administrators brought in law enforcement at Newsome and searched all students and staff before they could enter the school building.

The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office is offering a reward for information leading to anyone who threatened the school.