Police: Putnam schools not among those receiving threats (free content)

None of Putnam County’s four school corporations are among the approximately 40 dealing with bomb threats on Friday.

Chief Deputy Tom Sutherlin of the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office made that confirmation Friday morning.

“There were no credible threats sent to any of the Putnam County Schools that we are aware of,” Sutherlin said.

Dozens of schools across Indiana were not so lucky, as bomb threats were emailed to the corporations on Thursday evening, prompting the majority to either close or cancel classes altogether on Friday.

Sutherlin said that he had spoken to the school resource officer at North Putnam Schools, who said there had been no threat. Likewise, he had heard from the superintendent’s office at South Putnam.

PCSO was already covering for Cloverdale’s school resource officer on Friday, and that corporation had also received no threat.

Additionally, Sutherlin said Greencastle Police Department Assistant Chief Ed Wilson confirmed for him there had been no threat to Greencastle Community Schools.

“We’re just monitoring the situation,” Sutherlin said. “If a threat would come in, then we would respond and handle it accordingly.

The investigation and response to the widespread threats are being handled by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Indiana State Police and local law enforcement agencies.

While the threats are spread throughout the state, the closest school to Putnam County with a confirmed threat appears to be Southwest Parke Community Schools (Riverton Parke). That corporation is in session today after reviewing the threat and deeming it not credible.

ISP released the following statement Friday morning:

Early this morning, the Indiana State Police was made aware of an email message sent to several dozen Indiana schools threatening the use of explosive devices that had allegedly been planted on various school campuses. We immediately allocated all intelligence resources to investigate the validity of the threat, to include communication with the Department of Education, our local, county and federal law enforcement partners. At this time no suspicious or explosive devices have been found in any of our schools. The investigation into the origin of this threat is ongoing.

Out of an abundance of caution, troopers throughout the state have been in communication with their local schools to offer assistance and resources. School corporations are working with their local law enforcement to make the best decision about their operations today.

“The safety of our children will always be a top priority,” ISP Supt. Doug Carter said. “The Indiana State Police will continue to offer any and all resources we have to schools to ensure safety for our students.”

Henry County Sheriff John M. Sproles told Fox 59 his office had received the threat sent to the various schools, saying it was written in Arabic and had been translated into the following: “One of your schools has a bomb inside. It is well built, solid and discreetly (sic) located. Considering that today is your last day, I think it is appropriate for you to pray to God. Allah is the greatest.”

According to the news station, the following schools had been confirmed to be affected and are closed or on eLearning: Center Grove Schools, Fairfield Community Schools, Frankton-Lapel Community Schools, Guerin Catholic High School, Lebanon Community School Corporation, Madison-Grant Community Schools, Marion Community Schools, Middlebury Community Schools, Noblesville Schools, Northwest Allen County Schools, Oak Hill United School Corporation, Rising Sun-Ohio County Community Schools, Salem Community Schools, Shelby Eastern Schools, Shelbyville Central Schools, Shenandoah School Corporation, Southwestern Consolidated Schools, Speedway Schools, Tipton Community School Corporation, Union County-College Corner Joint School District, Western School Corporation and Western Wayne Schools.

Schools that are open after deeming the threats not to be credible include: Eastern Pulaski Community School Corporation, Lakeland School Corporation, Prairie Heights Community School Corporation, Borden-Henryville School Corporation, Hamilton Community Schools, Southwest Parke Community Schools and Lake Station Community Schools.

Story will be updated if more information becomes available.