Police: No threats against Armuchee High

Officers say a separate incident involving a knife led to a juvenile complaint.

Floyd County police Maj. Jeff Jones said threats against Armuchee High Friday, allegedly made by a student, turned out to be false, but a separate incident at the school did lead to another student being charged with a juvenile complaint after reportedly having a knife on campus. According to Jones: The original dispatch call went out as a student making threats against the school and police responded to the scene. However, police discovered that the student did not actually make the threats, which were linked back to a social media post.

Jones believed people had begun to confuse the threats call with a separate incident at the school on Friday.

School resource officer Donald Holbrook had been notified of a student having a knife at school. He followed up on it today, leading to a juvenile complaint — having a knife on school property — being filed against the 16-year-old. The student’s parents were called and they picked him up.

Due to the student’s age, there was no physical arrest. However, the student will have a hearing in juvenile court, with his parents, on the matter.

“They’ve got it all squared all away,” Jones said.

An emergency message was sent out as a phone call and an email to Armuchee High faculty, staff and parents around 2:30 p.m. Friday.

In the message, Principal John Rhodarmer said, “I want to make you aware of a situation that was brought to my attention earlier today. I received a report about a social media post disturbing in nature that allegedly involved one of our students.

“Extensive security measures continue to be in place to help us maintain a safe campus,” the message stated.

Rhodarmer went on to call for parents and stakeholders to address school safety and students’ use of social media.

“I now ask for your help. Please take this opportunity to speak to students about the importance of school safety and the appropriate use of social media. Students should always think before they post. I encourage students to feel comfortable reporting any information they may have that compromises their safety and the safety of others. If students see something, they should say something.”