For the third time in recent weeks, Greater Sudbury Police are reporting a threat found in the washroom of a local school.
Around 2:30 p.m. on May 8, officers were dispatched to École Notre-Dame in Hanmer, a local elementary school, in relation to a threats complaint.
In a news release, GSPS said a student located a handwritten message on a piece of paper warning of a threat to individuals at the school. The message did not detail the type of threat. The piece of paper was found in a bathroom in the school.
The student brought the piece of paper to staff, who contacted police.
Officers are actively investigating the matter to determine the credibility of the threat. Officers are working with administration, staff and students to conduct a thorough investigation. “The safety of students, staff and our community is our top priority,” said a press release.
There will be an increased visible police presence at École Notre-Dame today, May 9, to ensure public safety and to support students and staff.
However, when Sudbury.com visited the school at around 8:30 a.m., there did not yet appear to be a police presence. GSPS told Sudbury.com their officer arrived around 8:30 a.m., so it is likely the reporter had left the scene before police arrived. GSPS said they will have a presence at the school around the time of dismissal as well.
Threats were also found in washrooms at two local high schools recently — at St. Benedict Catholic Secondary School in April and at l’École secondaire catholique l’Horizon earlier this week.
In the case of the St. Benedict incident, police later reported finding those responsible for writing the messages on a bathroom stall and determined there was no valid threat to the school.
Given there's now been two threats at Conseil scolaire catholique Nouvelon schools this week, Sudbury.com requested an interview with Nouvelon director of education Paul Henry.
The school board has declined our interview request. They did issue a short written statement, which reads as follows: "The safety and well-being of our students, staff members, and community is our top priority. As this is a Greater Sudbury Police Service matter and an active police investigation is ongoing, we kindly request media inquiries to be directed to the GSPS."
A letter to the École Notre-Dame Hanmer school community was also issued May 8, in which it described the incident, and said the school would remain open today with police presence, as well as social workers on hand, although parents may wish to keep their children at home.
Anyone with information related to the origin of the message is asked to contact police at 705-675-9171 or Crime Stoppers at 705-222-8477.
This story will be updated as further information becomes available.
