Newton High School was evacuated on March 27 after school officials received a bomb threat, which later turned out to be “unsubstantiated” according to police.
According to a Newton Police press release, Newton High School received an anonymous phone call at 10:30 a.m. March 27 stating that an explosive device was in the school.
Newton School Superintendent Nola Bryant said the high school implemented their emergency plan moments after receiving the call.
“We evacuated the school building and loaded the students and staff on buses within four minutes,” Bryant said on March 27 while the threat was ongoing. “The students are being held at the elementary school gymnasium until the school is cleared.”
About an hour later, Mississippi Highway Patrol trooper Herbert Johnson and his K-9 explosive detection dog Lando arrived at the high school and with the assistance of surrounding agencies completed a thorough sweep of the entire property.
“It is an unfortunate world that we live that uses terror to prank or threaten parents, children, and communities,” said Police Chief Harvey Curry. “We can assure that we are not taking these threats as non-credible, and we will extend the full arm of the law to cease these acts and prosecute those involved.”
Assisting Newton Police and the Newton Municipal School District with the threat were the Newton Fire Department, LifeCare EMS, the Newton County Sheriff’s Office and Mississippi Highway Patrol. Curry added that the Newton Municipal School SRO did a fantastic job evacuating the school and coordinating the emergency operations center.
“As with any situation the safety of our citizens is the top priority,” Curry said, “and we’re are thankful that this threat was unsubstantiated.
