Schools in Somerton evacuated after threat

Male caller indicated bomb was at one of the campuses

Students and staff from Somerton School District 11 were evacuated early Thursday morning following a suspicious bomb call in one of the district’s six schools.

Somerton police facilitated schools’ dismissal and checked the grounds and buildings of each campus, but did not find any threat to the safety of students or nearby residents.

According to information provided by acting Police Chief Joseph A. Turitto Jr., at approximately 10:25 a.m. the Somerton Police Department’s 9-1-1 Center received a call from an unknown male indicating there was a “bomb in a Somerton school.” No further information was provided.

Based on the vague information provided, as a precaution Assistant Superintendent Jerry Cabrera decided to cancel classes for the remainder of the day for the entire school district.

A military police bomb-sniffing K-9 unit from MCAS Yuma was also contacted to assist in searching the schools. Officers from ADOT and agents from Yuma Sector Border Patrol also assisted in searching and evacuating the schools.

A total of 3500 students and staff were affected by this incident. Schools in the district include Somerton Middle School, Valle Del Encanto Learning Center, Tierra Del Sol Elementary, Orange Grove Elementary, Desert Sonora Elementary and the Somerton Adult Education Center.

As of now, classes in the Somerton School District are expected to resume Friday morning at their usual times. The Somerton Police Department is asking for the public’s assistance in identifying the suspect(s) responsible for these threats. If you have any information that might help detectives solve this case, please contact Somerton Police at (928) 722-7300 or 78-Crime at (928) 782-7463 to remain anonymous.