3 juveniles charged in Creston Schools threat

So far, three juveniles have been charged with first-degree harassment in an ongoing Creston Police Department investigation of an online threat in which a Creston High School student mentioned the act of bringing a gun to school. Both school administration and Creston police have said the threat posed no immediate danger to students.

The names of the juveniles are Dustin Williams, age 17, Chance Brown, age 16, and Nicolas Case, age 17.

According to a Creston Police report, Williams, Brown and Chase were released to their parents, and the case has been referred to juvenile authorities. The investigation is ongoing and additional charges may be filed.

The investigation began Wednesday after administration received word around 8 a.m. that a high school student had posted the threat in a private online chat group around 5:45 p.m. Monday.

Creston Superintendent Steve McDermott said the threat was not specific to any student, staff member or building and was “highly unlikely” to be real.

“One of the statements had something to do with taking a gun to school,” McDermott said. “We believed it was unlikely, but we can’t make that call.”

The school followed protocol, placing students involved in the chat group under adult supervision away from the student body and notifying Creston Police Department. An officer arrived at approximately 10 a.m. Wednesday. Administration also called parents of students involved and conducted a thorough search of lockers, backpacks, coats and cars of students possibly involved.

Creston Police Chief Paul Ver Meer said the threat posed no danger to staff or students.

“I consider it to be a non-credible threat,” Ver Meer said. “If we had felt it was a serious threat, we would have gotten something out to the public.”

Ver Meer said three students have been charged so far, but the investigation continues. He said five students total are involved. Ver Meer said the current harrassment charges may be amended by a juvenile court or county attorney.

McDermott said consequences for the students are still to be determined.

Creston High School Principal Bill Messerole said high school students and staff were notified of the threat around 1:30 p.m. Wednesday.

“There was no danger, and we knew that immediately, but we did want to catch the students and staff up to date,” Messerole said.

McDermott said the school worked closely with police on the best way to communicate the situation. He said with a more serious-level threat, notification would have been posted on the Creston Schools website and sent to parents by SchoolReach, the school’s emergency notification system.

“We didn’t believe we had a threat at the level that it was necessary to send it out via SchoolReach,” McDermott said. “But if we did have a threat, or something did happen on one of our campuses, then yes, we would send out something.”

Parents can sign up for SchoolReach or make other arrangements to receive emergency notifications by contacting their child’s respective school building.

The Creston News Advertiser will have more information as it becomes available.