ALLENTOWN, Pa. – Police are investigating a bomb threat that was called into William Allen High School Wednesday.
Hundreds of students and teachers were forced to evacuate to J. Birney Crum Stadium as Allentown Police investigated the school building.
“When there is a bomb threat, obviously we’re going to have to evacuate the school. This has happened twice at Trexler, once here today over at William Allen,” said Robert Whartenby, the Allentown School District’s Chief Operating Officer.
All those threats happened in just the past week, and none of them were found to be credible. So far, two boys have been arrested and charged with making terroristic threats for the bomb threats at Trexler. Police are still searching for a suspect in the threat at William Allen, but Whartenby said students need to think about what it takes every time one of these threats happens.
“Students missing time in class. Students leaving during lunch. We’re also deploying our valuable resources from the police department, fire department. As of today, we also deployed the resources of the sheriff’s department so they could bring a dog in,” said Whartenby.
In addition to criminal charges, students can face suspension or expulsion for calling in bomb threats. Whartenby said he hopes the message is heard loud and clear to cut it out.
“This is the third time in four days, four school days, that this has happened. So we’re hoping that it ceases. We’re hoping that students understand the ramifications of their actions,” said Whartenby.
Allentown Police are still searching for a suspect in connection with Wednesday’s threat at William Allen. If you think you might know something about that threat, you can call the School District’s anonymous tip line at (844) 723-2729, or the Allentown Police Department.
The threat comes after Trexler Middle School received two bomb threats within the last week.