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."
All schools in Bradford County to be closed Monday after threat made over voicemail https://t.co/6QL2XTpoAC
— ActionNewsJax (@ActionNewsJax) August 29, 2016
All Bradford County schools will be CLOSED today because of a threat to Bradford Middle School. @ActionNewsJax
— Kaitlyn Chana (@KaitlynChana) August 29, 2016
The district will be sending out robo-calls to all parents this morning starting at 6AM. @ActionNewsJax
— Kaitlyn Chana (@KaitlynChana) August 29, 2016
Last night, the district posted on its Facebook page that ALL schools in Bradford County will be cancelled. pic.twitter.com/Q3A6SVBpS2
— Kaitlyn Chana (@KaitlynChana) August 29, 2016
PARENTS SPEAKING OUT: I've spoken w/ many parents & there's a lot of chatter online about why someone would threaten a school. Details at 7.
— Kaitlyn Chana (@KaitlynChana) August 29, 2016
Two law enforcement officers are sitting outside Bradford Middle School. @ActionNewsJax pic.twitter.com/lPW5W53aH0
— Kaitlyn Chana (@KaitlynChana) August 29, 2016
"BLOWING UP THE SCHOOL" is the message investigators tell me was left on a voicemail at Bradford Middle School.
— Kaitlyn Chana (@KaitlynChana) August 29, 2016
Officials tell me it was a bomb threat. @ActionNewsJax
— Kaitlyn Chana (@KaitlynChana) August 29, 2016
Investigators tells me the school received a voicemail message saying someone was planning on blowing up Bradford Middle School.
— Kaitlyn Chana (@KaitlynChana) August 29, 2016
We know the voicemail was about 20 seconds long, referenced "bomb" & officials believe a teenager may have left the message. @ActionNewsJax
— Kaitlyn Chana (@KaitlynChana) August 29, 2016
The superintendent tells me students & adults have been providing credible leads to officials this morning.
— Kaitlyn Chana (@KaitlynChana) August 29, 2016
School leaders r using tracking technology to figure out who made the threat. @ActionNewsJax pic.twitter.com/IKSIWsfF7a
— Kaitlyn Chana (@KaitlynChana) August 29, 2016
If a student left this message, they could potentially be expelled & face charges. @ActionNewsJax pic.twitter.com/WNlPsBwTyI
— Kaitlyn Chana (@KaitlynChana) August 29, 2016
Major Barry Warren tells me they have a suspect in custody. @ActionNewsJax
— Kaitlyn Chana (@KaitlynChana) August 29, 2016
Officials tell me it was through leads they found the suspect who made the bomb threats. @ActionNewsJax
— Kaitlyn Chana (@KaitlynChana) August 29, 2016
Law enforcement tells me the suspect is a minor. @ActionNewsJax
— Kaitlyn Chana (@KaitlynChana) August 29, 2016
Major Warren tells me they found no bombs at the middle school, but they're questioning the suspect now. @ActionNewsJax
— Kaitlyn Chana (@KaitlynChana) August 29, 2016
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
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