Bomb threat leads to school evacuation

MORRISON – The high school was evacuated Tuesday morning after officials reported a bomb threat.

There was no evidence of a bomb, and students returned and classes resumed by early afternoon, Police Chief Brian Melton said.

Few details were released. The threat was “received within the school” about 11 a.m., but Melton declined to say how it was relayed, or to whom, citing the ongoing investigation.

Police had no suspects as of Tuesday afternoon, he said.

This is the fourth bomb threat police have investigated at the school in less than a year.

On April 8, a bomb threat was written on a wall in a boys bathroom, and again on April 29 in a different boys bathroom. On June 7, 30 summer school students were evacuated after a bomb threat was found inside the building.

No one has been arrested. Police had leads but not enough evidence to charge anyone, so those cases remain open, Melton said.

It is “too early” to speculate whether the latest threat was a prank, he said.

“I have to take it seriously and find out who did it or why.”

To help

Anyone with information on this or any of the past bomb threats can call Morrison police, 815-772-7659, or the anonymous reward hotline, Whiteside County Crime Stoppers, 877-625-7867.

Crime Stoppers offers a cash reward of up to $1,000 for information that leads to an arrest.