NEW DETAILS

A third of Bellbrook students absent

Police presence increased at high school after threat.

Sugarcreek Twp. police Sgt. Mark White monitors the hallway during Monday's dismissal at Bellbrook High School. Security was heightened and attendance was down Monday after someone placed a threat on a bathroom wall last week. Staff Photo by Jim Witmer

Jim Witmer Sugarcreek Twp. police Sgt. Mark White monitors the hallway during Monday's dismissal at Bellbrook High School. Security was heightened and attendance was down Monday after someone placed a threat on a bathroom wall last week. Staff Photo by Jim Witmer

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By Andy Sedlak, Staff Writer Updated 10:58 AM Tuesday, February 14, 2012

SUGARCREEK TWP., Greene County — District officials said Bellbrook High School was “quiet” Monday after the police presence there was increased stemming from a threat discovered late last week in a boys restroom.

Sugarcreek Twp. police are working to find the writer of the scrawled message. Police will not say what the writing displayed, only that the threat would be carried out at 1 p.m. Monday.

Nothing happened, but many parents kept students home to avoid the risk.

The school enrolls about 900, according to officials. The normal daily attendance rate is 90 percent and higher. Monday that rate reached about 65 percent, meaning roughly 315 students missed school Monday.

“I just didn’t think much of (the threat) because I know the police do a good job taking care of the school,” said Michelle Bennett, whose son is a junior.

Josh Dregalla, a senior, said, “I didn’t really think anything of it — just another prank.”

But district officials and police didn’t risk it. Five to six police officers were in the building, Superintendent Keith St. Pierre said. Some were in street clothes.

Sugarcreek Twp. and Bellbrook police kept a watch on the school.

“Students and staff went about a normal day,” St. Pierre said.

Two officers were working overtime Monday, according to Sugarcreek police Sgt. Mark White. One will again today. That translates to about $200 per officer in total overtime costs.

“We’ll expend those resources,” White said. “And we will each and every time we have a threat like this.”

Police interviewed about five students on Monday, according to White. Police will continue to break down surveillance footage frame by frame.

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