Middle schooler to face charges after ‘joke’ threat

Van Buren student said on Snapchat he would ‘blow up’ a bus.

Aggravated menacing charges will be pursued against a Van Buren Middle School student who admitted Wednesday to making a threat about a school bus, according to Kettering police.

Police responded after several students reported the social media threat to staff immediately after arriving at the Shroyer Road school, Principal Matthew Salyer said in a message to families.

The student was “immediately brought to the office and admitted to posting the statement as a joke,” according to Salyer’s message.

The student took a photo while on the bus and posted it on Snapchat with a message stating, “About to blow up this bus,” states a Kettering police report.

But “there was no actual intent behind the threat,” according to the police report.

The student faces aggravated menacing charges and the case will be forwarded to Montgomery County Juvenile Court, according to the police report.

The district “will pursue disciplinary action against the student,” in accordance with board of education policy and the student code of conduct, Salyer said.

This news organization has reached out to Kettering schools for more details about the issue.

“We commend the students for reporting this information directly to school staff,” Salyer said in the message. “Please continue to encourage your children that when they hear or see something concerning to report it to you or another trusted adult at school.”

Last month at Fairmont High School, Kettering police investigated after “inappropriate

comments” were written on a restroom wall, but “no credible threat” was found, officials said.

That instance prompted administrators to temporarily limit student movement at the school while police reviewed camera footage.