News : Benton Community High School Threat leads to juvenile taken into custody

The Benton Community School District was on lockdown on Tuesday due to the threat of a gun at the High School.

The school received an anonymous tip through Safe+Sound Iowa at 1:07 p.m. The tip was of "someone doing harm with a firearm."

The school district put the building on "hold" which meant that students and staff stayed in the locked classrooms while the administration and law enforcement monitored the building.]

The elementary school students were released at their normal time wile the middle and high school students dismissed on a staggered schedule, but all students left the campus by 3:30 p.m.

All backpacks and lockers were checked and administrators and law enforcement remained on site. Due to the possible threat, evening activities at the school were canceled. 

In a press release from the Benton County Sheriffs Office indicated that there was no threat found during the day on Tuesday. A second threat came in on Tuesday evening, and yet a third on Wednesday morning. Deputies remained on scene through the night and into Wednesday morning to assure the safety of the students. 

On Wednesday morning, evidence led to a suspect present at the school and they were taken into custody. The juvenile was charged with, "Reporting false information of an act of terrorism to a law enforcement authority" which is a Class D Felony. 

An investigation continues.

The department was assisted by:

Iowa Department of Criminal Investigation

Governor's School Safety Bureau

Benton Community School Administration

"We would like to thank the swift response of the Safe+Sound tipline and Benton Community School High School Administration for their invaluable assistance in this matter," Sheriff David Upah said. 

All charges are subject to review but the Benton County Attorney's office. An arrest or criminal charge is merely an accusation, and the defendant is innocent until proven guilty.