High school student arrested after threat on social media

A Ringgold High School student was arrested Thursday morning, Feb. 15, after allegedly posting a threat on social media aimed at one of the school’s coaches.

According to the Catoosa County Sheriff’s Department and Catoosa County Public Schools, the threat was ultimately deemed as not credible, but that necessary action was taken anyway.

“He was on the school bus and was apprehended when he arrived at school,” said Marissa Brower, communications specialist for Catoosa County Public Schools. “All employees and students were safe.”

Brower says the student’s social media threat was aimed at the coach specifically and not the school. She also confirmed that the student had no weapons or anything dangerous on him when he arrived at school.

The timing of the incident wasn’t ideal, as the nation was dealing with the aftermath of a school shooting in Parkland, Fla., less than 24 hours earlier.

“We take everything seriously,” Brower said.

Brower added that the school system has beefed up its precautionary measures over the past couple of years by installing security upgrades and 911 software that is tied to the county’s Emergency Management Agency.

“It’s a project that’s involved a lot of money from ESPLOST, and it involves extra safety precautions with our security systems,” Brower said. “It’s designed where we have additional cameras and no one can get into the schools without being buzzed in.”

The project began last year with Tiger Creek Elementary as the pilot school.

Brower says the plan is for all the schools to utilize the new measures completely by next fall.

“Tiger Creek has been through all the training,” Brower explained. “It’s installed in all the schools, but all of them haven’t had their trainings yet. All the schools could be ready by the next school year. It’s a good thing for our community to know and feel confident about.”