Police: Facebook post about smoking marijuana mistaken as threat to blow up Springfield school

Springfield police are investigating a second recent alleged school threat at Cliff Park High School.

Police were called to the school on Friday after school administrators learned of a possible threatening Facebook status posted by a student, according to a police report.

The student told police the social media post was about smoking marijuana rather than committing violence, according to the report.

PREVIOUS: Cliff Park student arrested after school shooting threat

Police began their investigation at around 11 a.m. when they spoke to Cliff Park’s director Jeff Waechter.

“Mr. Waechter stated (a student) posted to Facebook ‘If you go to Cliff Park run home (student’s nickname) trynna blow up the school,’” the report says. “Mr. Waechter stated this caused alarm in the school with students and staff. Additionally, at least two students did not come to school on this date because of the post, according to Mr. Waechter.”

Police were able to identify both the student who posted the status and the student who is referred to in the status, according to the police report. The students are family members, according to the report.

The student that is referred to in the status was interviewed at Cliff Park and told police the two were private messaging before the Facebook status was posted.

MORE: Springfield man accused of displacing woman’s teeth with skillet

The student who allegedly posted the status said the post was referencing the smoking of marijuana, according to the report.

“(The student) stated the post was a misunderstanding and that he was trying to tell students they should run because (the other student) was smoking marijuana, and it was going to smell,” the report says. 

The student who allegedly posted the Facebook message was arrested and charged with inducing panic, according to the report.

READ: Springfield pregnant woman shot in the head: What we know now

This is the second threat police have investigated at the school within the last month. Police were called to the school previously when a student told Waechter he planned to shoot up the school after an argument in the school’s cafeteria, according to a police report.

About the Author