Prosecutor issues statement on threat

Van Wert independent

Van Wert County Prosecutor Eva Yarger’s office has issued a statement on the Instagram threat discovered late Wednesday evening that resulted in charges being filed against a minor Van Wert student in Van Wert County Juvenile Court, as well as an ongoing Instagram threat related to Crestview Local Schools.

However, no information was released on the identity of the person charged, nor what occurred at the Juvenile Court hearing.

The statement is as follows:

“On February 21, 2018, the Van Wert City Police Department responded to a threat posted on social media to disrupt the operations of Van Wert High School.  This posting had been shared repeatedly via social media resulting in numerous contacts of school officials and law enforcement agencies.

Because of the nature of the threat and the panic created, Van Wert City Schools canceled classes for February 22, 2018.  The Van Wert City Police Department engaged in an immediate investigation of the source of the threat, resulting in charges being brought in Van Wert (County) Juvenile Court earlier today.

Additionally, the Van Wert County Sheriff’s Office was also required to respond to other similar, but separate, threats also posted on social media that potentially affected operations in other county schools and those investigations are ongoing at the time of this release.

Because of the events that have occurred in this community as well as other communities, the Office of the Van Wert County Prosecuting Attorney wishes to commend all individuals associated with this effort and to assure the citizens of Van Wert and Van Wert County that acts of this kind or nature will be the subject of immediate prosecution to the fullest extent provided by law.

On behalf of this Office and all law enforcement agencies we would ask that if anyone has information concerning these events or are aware of any possible threats that these be reported immediately.”