Arrest: Suspect was in custody within 12 hours
A 13-year-old male was in custody and charged Friday morning less than 12 hours after the Fannin County Sheriff’s Office was alerted to a threat of violence against Fannin County Middle School (FCMS).
The suspect, whose name is not available because he is a juvenile, was charged with two felonies, Terroristic Threats and Domestic Terrorism, and one misdemeanor, Disruption of a Public School, according to School Resource Officer (SRO) unit Commander Lieutenant Darvin Couch.
The suspect was taken to the Youth Detention Center in Dalton following his arrest. He was scheduled for a hearing before a juvenile judge Monday morning.
Fannin County Sheriff Dane Kirby said information was reported to a parent about a threat being communicated between two students. The parent then reported the threat to the sheriff’s office Thursday, March 7, and Couch was informed shortly after 10 p.m.
Couch, along with SROs Sergeant Anthony Walden and Deputy Thomas Kay, worked throughout the night. Couch said, “We started knocking on doors and following leads immediately.”
School system officials also helped with the SROs efforts.
By Friday morning, the threat had not been substantiated, according to a statement by School Superintendent Shannon Dillard.
Kirby, Dillard, extra deputies and school system central office administrators were on hand at the middle school Friday morning as extra precautions were taken to keep students and school personnel safe.
At approximately 10 a.m., Kirby reported the student, who was enrolled at the middle school, was taken into custody. “At no time” did the student enter school property, Kirby said.
Couch said the arrest was made at the suspect’s home by himself, Walden, and three agents from the FBI’s Conasauga Safe Streets Task Force.
Kirby stressed, “At no time were any students or teachers in any danger. Preliminary information indicates the student made the remarks thinking it would be “funny”.”
“An extra security presence did exist at Fannin Middle School until a resolution was reached, however, none of the other schools were left uncovered by law enforcement for one minute during this event.
“The safety of our children is our utmost priority. We are thankful for all the assistance provided by the school system and everyone else involved,” Kirby said.
Dillard said, “I want to thank the School Resource Officers, Sheriff Kirby and his staff, and all our school system personnel for the professionalism they showed during last Friday’s incident.
“The safety of our children always has been and always will be our number one priority. Every decision we make every day is made with their safety in mind,” Dillard said.
Couch said that under school system policy, because the student has been charged with felonies, he will not be allowed to return to school.