PONCHATOULA, La, (WGNO) — Tangipahoa Parish deputies announced the arrest of a 17-year-old who is accused of making bomb threats. They say at the time of his arrest; he was sitting in his desk at school and in the process of making a second threat.
According to deputies, at about 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 13, student Calvin Richardson posted a bomb threat for Ponchatoula High School using social media. They say they were able to trace the threat to Richardson’s mobile device.
He was arrested at the school at about 9:45 a.m. the following morning.
Deputies say that if Richardson didn’t want to go to class, his bad decisions, and the unfortunate arrest made it happen.
“I am encouraging all parents, grandparents, and/or guardians to talk to your children about the seriousness of online threats and the consequences of facing multiple felonies at the young age of 17,” Sheriff Daniel Edwards said in a written news release.
Richardson was booked into the parish jail with two counts of terrorizing and two counts of false planning of a planned bomb on school property. Deputies said their investigation would continue to see if any other people were involved.
One week ago, several law enforcement agencies conducted a sweep of Ponchatoula High School following another terrorist threat. Classes were cancelled as a precaution, but not dangerous devices were discovered, and classes resumed the next morning.
In last week’s case, a telephone threat was made from — and traced to — a medical center in Carrollton, Texas. Deputies say the call only lasted 20 seconds. At last word, there was no arrest made in that case.