In less than 24 hours, detectives with the Broward Sheriff’s Office Threat Management Unit (TMU) in collaboration with the Hollywood Police Department, Coral Springs Threat Management Unit and Coconut Creek Police Department arrested a 16-year-old accused of making false reports of bomb threats to several schools in Broward County and Fort Lauderdale – Hollywood International Airport.
According to investigators, at around 10 a.m. on Friday, May 12, the teen called 9-1-1 and told the operator, “About to do a bombing at South Broward High School.” The teen said the bombing would happen in about two hours. The school was immediately evacuated. Minutes later, the teen called 9-1-1 again, threatening to commit a shooting at South Broward High School and Attucks Middle School both located in Hollywood. As a result, Attucks Middle School was secured in place.
The investigation revealed that in the hours that followed, the teen proceeded to make additional false bomb threats calling into Coconut Creek High School, Blanche Ely High School, Coral Glades High School and Fort Lauderdale – Hollywood International Airport, disrupting everyday functions.
BSO’s Real Time Crime Center monitored the cameras on the schools, while investigators searched all affected locations and determined there was no actual threat.
BSO’s TMU detectives working in conjunction with investigators with the Hollywood Police Department, Coral Springs Threat Management Unit and Coconut Creek Police Department developed information that led them to the teen, who does not attend any of the schools affected. The teen was arrested and taken to the Juvenile Assessment Center for processing. The teen faces charges of written threats to kill, false report of a bomb or firearm and disruption of a school function.
