A 13-year-old youth was arrested for making online threatening comments towards the Gilbert Plains Elementary School.
Mr. Fisher, Principal of the school, investigated the matter, contacted the RCMP, and then followed the division’s threat assessment procedures.
Sergeant Paul Manaigre, RCMP Media Relations Officer, says the RCMP followed up on the report from the school.
“With this information the officers were dispatched to the location. Statements were made with all those involved and we determined that the threats were made by a 13-year-old male youth, who we’ve been told has been suspended from school for several days. He has subsequently been arrested by the RCMP and given a court date for a future date in Dauphin. Charges are probably applicable for uttering threats for a later court date.”
Both MVSD Division and the RCMP are working together to ensure the safety of staff and students.
“Well right now, I would say we are still working with the school. We want to make sure the students and staff there have a safe work and learning environment. It’s unfortunate that these kinds of comments were made. We’ve determined that there was no intent to do it. With social media these days and the way kids are, they’re saying things that they shouldn’t be and it gets out of hand, but we have to deal with it as if the threats are real and now we’ll leave it in the hands of the courts.”
Any parents with questions can contact the principal at the Gilbert Plains Elementary School and a letter is being sent to parents today.