Cairo Association of Teachers - Newsletter

CAT Tracks for December 13, 2007 NASHVILLE IL HIGH SCHOOL

UPDATE: Arrest Made...Story follows original post.

Authorities say school will resume Thursday

By: Emily Eddington

NASHVILLE, Ill -- Law enforcement agencies from throughout the region spent Wednesday afternoon at Nashville High School. They were searching for clues after a threatening message was found in a school bathroom.

At around 5 pm Nashville Police said the school was secure, having found no evidence making a connection with that message. A maintenance worker discovered it at 11:30 this morning, and since that time authorities say looking for answers has been a group effort.

"This day and time it's not typically if something's going to happen-- but when is it going to happen," says Trooper David Sneed with the Illinois State Police, "So we've got to be ready at all times."

City, county, and state law enforcement agencies combined efforts at Nashville High School, searching for clues that could shed light on a threatening message left in a bathroom.

"It was something that implied great bodily harm. However exactly what the note says-- I don't know at this time," says Sneed.

Sneed says faculty kept students secure in the school's gymnasium until they were released early for the day.

"We didn't know what to think. There's kids crying and everything was messed up," says sophomore Cody Gill.

Meanwhile authorities used surveillance video, trying to pin-point who might have left the message. One department brought out its bomb-sniffing dog to search for anything suspicious throughout classrooms and lockers.

Students say several rumors were circulating about the cause for the evacuation, but some say the real fear was with their parents.

"My mom-- she's real worried," says Cody, "She kept calling and calling and calling me. I just told her everything's alright and I'll see her in a little while when she comes to pick me up."

An afternoon that authorities say ended safely, thanks to a well-executed emergency plan.

"It's a very serious thing in this day and time to leave threatening messages," says Sneed, "whether you're playing it as a joke or whether it's a real situation because we take it all seriously."

As of Wednesday evening officials announced that the school is secure. Their concern now is any copy-cat threats coming on the heels of this suspicious message. Authorities say classes will be back in session Thursday at Nashville high school.

Arrest Made in Nashville High Threat

NASHVILLE, IL -- A Nashville teenager has been arrested in connection with a threat leading to the lockdown and evacuation of the Nashville High School.

Police say 18-year old Christopher Sharp of Nashville was charged with Felony Disorderly Conduct after leaving a threatening message in the boy's restroom. Authorities say the message threatened everyone in the High School

Sharp is being held at the Washington County jail on $25,000 bond.