Waupun teen restricted from school after threat on Snapchat, officials say

District: Schools on 'administrative hold' Tuesday

April 18, 2017 4:13 PM

Site staff,

Posted: April 18, 2017 4:13 PM

Updated: December 25, 2019 7:55 PM

by Site staff

WAUPUN, Wis. — A Waupun teenager is restricted from attending school after officials said he made a threat on social media early Tuesday.

The Dodge County Sheriff’s Office said it received a report from a Waupun police officer at 12:28 a.m. that a 15-year-old who lives in the school district sent a threatening message via Snapchat, a popular mobile app used to share videos and pictures.

The sheriff’s office said deputies determined that a threat did take place, but the means to carry out the threat was not substantiated.

In a statement on the Waupun Area School District Facebook page Tuesday, the school said Waupun police would provide additional presence throughout the day at the school. The district took the safety precaution of putting schools on “administrative hold,” which means instruction continues as usual but students and staff have limited movement within the buildings, the district said. Schools were open Tuesday, but the district said parents always have the choice to keep students at home for safety reasons.

The 15-year-old was found at home and was interviewed by law enforcement. Deputies consulted with county human services and the district attorney’s office, and “appropriate actions are being taken to ensure the safety of the public,” according to the release.

The Waupun School District Tuesday restricted the 15-year-old from attending school; he’s not allowed on school grounds until further notice, the sheriff’s office said.

“The Sheriff’s Office would like to assure the public that they are safe and it is safe to send students to school,” officials wrote in the release.

The sheriff’s office said since the investigation involved a juvenile, the department won’t release further information on the actions being taken in the case.

The sheriff’s office and the Waupun Police Department in the coming days and weeks will continue to ensure the safety in schools as the investigation into the incident continues, according to the release.