Students face felony charges for making bomb threats at school

MAUMELLE, AR - Two students were arrested this week and Maumelle police are still looking to charge a third in connection with bomb threats at school.

Maumelle Police Chief Sam Williams says it all started three weeks ago when a student was taken to a hospital in a helicopter after passing out from heat exhaustion during an evacuation due to a bomb threat.

"They do not understand how serious this is. But trust me, it is very serious," said PCSSD Superintendent Jerry Guess.

In the past month, there have been three bomb threats made by students at Maumelle schools -two at the middle school and one at the high school. Police say the threats are all made on hand-written notes.

"People try to say, well this kid made a mistake," said Chief Williams. "If you're taking the time to think about what you're going to write - and then write it - and then think about where you're going to leave it - I don't consider that a mistake. I consider that a criminal act."

According to the police report, one note found Monday at the middle school reads "There are 3 bombs 2 here and one at the high school. if you call The Police I will set them off."

"I do think students take this lightly," said Dr. Guess. "They think its funny to issue a threat and see the building evacuated but its absolutely not a prank."

"These are serious offenses that these kids are committing," said Chief Williams.

Serious offenses with serious consequences. The two students arrested this week both face expulsion and Class D felonies and Chief Williams is confident he'll make a third arrest.

"We will come in and obviously disrupt your life," he said. "This is something now that you're going to have to go through that will impact you for a long time and it just didn't have to be that way."

Police also plan to ask for restitution. The chief says each student could be required to pay all expenses from each of the searches resulting from their notes including the cost of bringing in the helicopter for the injured student.