A bomb threat disrupted classes at Niagara Falls High School and in the Niagara Wheatfield School District yesterday. Students in Niagara Falls sheltered in place, while Niagara Wheatfield bused its students to a nearby shelter site.
Niagara County Sheriff Chief Deputy Steven Preisch says the phone call was short and the credibility was questionable. But Preisch says obviously the threat had to be passed on.
Niagara Wheatfield Superintendent Lynn Fusco says she chose to evacuate roughly 2,000 students and staff in the district's Middle School and High School because of "The possibility that there was a bomb in the building and that children's safety would be at risk."
Students spent more than three hours in the Sanborn Fire Hall before being bused back to Niagara Wheatfield.
"Every school has an emergency plan in place for many different types of scenarios. It's sad, but unfortunately that's the society we live in now a days, ever since incidents like Columbine," explained
Chief Deputy Preisch.
He says a search of the building turned up nothing. The call to evacuate he says was made by the school.
"If someone wants to criticize the superintendent for taking the kids and putting their safety at the forefront, that's criticism I could live with."
Many parents waited near the school, wondering what was happening with their children.
Emmett Printup, whose son attends Niagara Wheatfield says 99 percent of the time threats are nothing. But after getting a call from his wife, Printup drove to the school to wait and see.
"It's better to be safe and be there. If you can, you can help, right?"
According to Preisch, investigators are following some very good leads. He says making a bomb threat is a serious crime.
"It's not something that's taken lightly. I don't want to say anything that could or may jeopardize the investigation."