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For the week of October 18 through 24, 2000

911 prank snags three high schoolers

Caller said he was going to "shoot" people at school


By PETER BOLTZ
Express Staff Writer

Hailey police responded to a 911 call on Monday and nabbed three juveniles for possible misuse of the 911 emergency call system.

Making a prank 911 call is a misdemeanor that carries a maximum fine of $500 and up to six months in jail.

According to Hailey Police Chief Jack Stoneback, a 911 call was received at 11:55 a.m. from what sounded like a young male saying he was on his way back to school to shoot someone.

Since no school was named, Stoneback said he alerted all the schools in Hailey.

The call was traced to the Valley Car Wash across the street from Sawtooth Ford, and police were able to get a description of the car and one of the individuals from car wash employees.

Stoneback said a search for the car ended around 2:30 p.m. when it was located at Wood River High School.

He said the owner of the car and two other students were brought to the school office where they were interviewed and then arrested for making a false 911 call.

At 6:45 p.m., the Mountain Express received a phone call from a youthful voice from someone claiming to have been involved in the incident. The statement acknowledged that "some boys made a false call to 911 and they overtook it as it was going to be a bomb threat," but contended that "there was no bomb threat, there was no gun threat, there was nothing of that sort made whatsoever."

Wood River High School principal Bill Resko confirmed that three individuals were involved, but he said he was still investigating to see if there was any wrongdoing.

Because the matter is still being investigated, he said, he did not know what punishment, if any, would be appropriate.

Resko said that he had not heard the 911 call, but he understood that it did not mention anything about shooting or bombing or which school. He said the call just said someone would be harmed at one of the schools.

Although no one was harmed, he said, a false 911 call is a serious matter.

 

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