State AG warns of serious penalties for making false threats
It is an action that defies explanation — or understanding the motivation — but Tuesday five schools in lower Michigan had to deal with a phony report of a shooting.
One prompted the Okemos School District near Lansing to not just evacuate but call off classes for Wednesday to let students, staff and families recover after law enforcement quickly scrambled to respond to the report of violence at the high school.
“It’s not a joke, and unfortunately we live in an era where we see what happens when this is real. … When you make false reports like this, it’s dangerous and it’s a crime. You put people at risk,” FBI agent David Porter said in the Associated Press story on the threats.
State police said schools in Detroit, Jackson, Ann Arbor and Portage received similar phony shooting reports Tuesday.
“This has been a traumatic day for students, staff and school communities across the entire state,” Tina Kerr, executive director of the Michigan Association of Superintendents and Administrators, said Tuesday.
It prompted Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel to reissue a video that highlights the seriousness of making threats against schools, calling what happened to the districts “swatting.”
In a news release Tuesday, swatting was defined as a prank call made to emergency services in an attempt to “dispatch” law enforcement to a particular location.
“Threats of violence in our schools disrupt the classroom, tax our local law enforcement agencies and harm our students’ sense of safety,” Nessel said. “Whether these are real threats made by those intent on doing harm or pranks made by kids trying to get a day off, they are real crimes with real consequences. It’s critical that adults and students alike understand the seriousness of these threats and the criminal charges they could face.”
In the video, Nessel explains the potential charges one could face if they make a threat of violence, which include:
— communicating a threat of terrorism, 20-year felony;
— calling in a bomb threat, a four-year felony;
— malicious use of a telecommunications device, a six-month misdemeanor; and
— threatening violence against school employee or student, a one-year misdemeanor.
Additionally, swatting could result in the following charges:
— false report of a crime, a 93-day misdemeanor;
— false report resulting in physical injury, a 5-year felony;
— false report resulting in a serious bodily impairment, a 10-year felony; and/or
— false report resulting in a death, a 15-year felony.
In addition to serving time in jail or prison, those found guilty of these crimes can face fines of up to $50,000.
The video can be viewed on the Department of Attorney General’s YouTube page. Hopefully those who might be contemplating such an action will take the time to watch.
Anyone who receives a threat or knows of a threat of violence still is encouraged to contact local law enforcement, according to the AG’s office.
Tips also can be left on the state’s OK2SAY hotline by calling 8-555-OK2SAY (855-565-2729) or texting 652729 (OK2SAY). The hotline operates 24/7 and protects the confidentiality of the reporter’s identity.
OK2SAY, which is housed within the Michigan State Police, provides for confidential reports of potential self-harm, harm to others, or criminal acts including, but not limited to, sexual abuse, assault or rape, directed at students, school employees, or schools in this state.