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Teen in custody after Bradford County schools closed due to threat

A 15-year-old is in custody after a threat closed all schools in Bradford County on Monday.

The Bradford County School District said a threat was made on a voicemail line at Bradford Middle School late Sunday evening.

Maj. Barry Warren with the Starke Police Department told Action News Jax's Kaitlyn Chana that the person said in the voicemail that they wanted to "blow up the school."

Superintendent of Schools Chad Farnsworth decided to close all schools Monday to protect students. Farnsworth said the voicemail was 20 seconds long and it sounds like it came from a teenager. Warren said the suspect in custody is a minor and faces two felony and one misdemeanor charges.

"Right now, we have some leads that we're following up on, that law enforcement agencies are following up on. We feel like we should have the issue resolved, but safety comes first and we want to make sure that all students and personnel are considered when we have situations arise like this," Farnsworth said Monday morning before the suspect was in custody.

The school district is working with Bradford County Sheriff's Office and Starke Police Department to investigate the threat. K9 and Bomb Squad units will be sweeping all schools in Bradford County. Maj. Warren said no bombs were found at the middle school.

"It was a bomb threat and things that give it more weight, we always look at the overall situation, time, location, what specifics do they give? With the specifics that were given in this, we're treating it as such," Maj. Warren said.

Parents tell Action News Jax they're upset that threats are being made so early in the school year.

"It makes me worry a lot when I'm at work and there's not a lot I can do," said parent Derrick Callan. "So I have to rely on our Sheriff's Office and school officials to look out for the kids and that's a big job these days."

IMPORTANT UPDATE: SAFETY AND SECURITY NOTICE Due to a threat received late this evening on a voicemail line at Bradford...

Posted by Bradford County School District on Sunday, August 28, 2016