STUDENT ARRESTED FOR CRIMINAL THREATS MADE OVER SOCIAL MEDIA

Published: 09/11/2024

STUDENT ARRESTED FOR CRIMINAL THREATS MADE OVER SOCIAL MEDIA

RIVERSIDE, CA - Late Tuesday on September 10, 2024, Riverside Police Officers began investigating a social media post threatening violence against Arlington High School and its principal. A School Threat Assessment and Response (S.T.A.R. Protocol) was initiated, which is the standardized investigative process amongst law enforcement agencies in Riverside County to prevent and respond to any threats and violent acts involving schools.

The Riverside Police School Resource Officer (SRO) assigned to Arlington High School was contacted and able to identify a 15-year-old male student as the source of the threatening social media post. With assistance from other SRO's, the student was later detained. His residence was searched and SRO's determined he did not have any access to weapons. He was subsequently booked into a Riverside County juvenile detention facility for making criminal threats.

Since the start of this school year in Riverside, SRO's and officers have initiated fourteen S.T.A.R. Protocol investigations in response to potential threats against local schools, primarily made through social media.

"Many of our S.T.A.R. Protocol investigations into school violence threats begin with social media posts, where the youth involved later claim they were only joking," said Riverside Police Chief Larry Gonzalez. "We treat every post suggesting school violence with utmost seriousness, regardless of intent. Disrupting the safe environment of our schools is no laughing matter and can result in severe consequences."

Our School Resource Officers have the following tips for parents and students regarding the increasing amount of threatening social media posts that disrupt school activities and safety.

For Parents: Monitor your child's social media and online activity. While social media has benefits, discuss its risks and encourage open communication, so they feel comfortable reporting anything inappropriate or suspicious.

For Students: Remember, what you may see as a joke can be taken seriously by others. Avoid posting or sharing anything that could cause fear or disrupt your school environment. Your words and actions matter.

Anyone with additional information regarding this criminal threats investigation should contact School Resource Officer Mike Cupido at [email protected]or (951) 353-7948. Those wishing to remain anonymous can download the Riverside Police Department's "Atlas 1" mobile app and utilize the "Send a Message" feature to send us the information. Our mobile app can be downloaded at APPLE or ANDROID.

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