ASHLAND — The Ashland Police Department is investigating an anonymous Snapchat post containing a threat toward Ashland High School and Ashland County Community Academy.
Police say a report was made to the department’s school resource officer, Jeremy Jarvis, on Thursday that a student had uncovered a threatening post on Snapchat.
“I’m shooting up Ashland city high school and ACCA I’ll show u guys bet you’ll stop bullying me then so if You don’t wanna get shot up dont come to school see you guys there tomorrow ..” the post states.
Chief Dave Marcelli said the post was made in such a way that the student who found it could tell it was posted near their geographic location but could not tell who posted the message.
It was unclear when the message was posted, but it was reported to police Thursday morning, he said.
“Despite all efforts, we have been unable to identify the source,” police said in a news release.
Police met with Ashland City Schools superintendent Doug Marrah, ACCA Principal Alan Wilson, Ashland County Sheriff’s Office and Ashland University to determine a course of action, according to the release.
“The decision to close or remain open was left to the decision of each administrator,” Marcelli said on Facebook, adding that he contacted every primary school, preschool and large day care facility in the city as well as Ashland University to inform them of the situation.
Ashland City Schools officials have decided to remain open Friday, but ACCA will be closed.
“Parents with children in pre-school or daycare facilities will need to determine what is best for their children,” the release states.
Ashland City Schools superintendent Doug Marrah said his decision not to close school was based on his assessment that “it was a nebulous, non-specific, anonymous threat.”
“It didn’t say Friday. It didn’t say March 23,” Marrah said. “We don’t know was it posted Wednesday night, was it posted Thursday morning. We have had little to no co-operation from Snapchat on that.”
Marrah sent out a recorded message through the district’s notification system around 9:30 p.m. Thursday informing families of the situation.
He said the district will honor parents’ decisions to keep children home from school Friday and will not count absences against students.
“If you decide to keep your child home, please follow our typical attendance procedures by calling your child’s school to report the absence,” Marrah said in the AlertNow call.
Jarvis just started in the newly restored school resource officer role Monday, following several years without an SRO in the district.
In light of the threat, Ashland Police Department plans to post additional officers at the city schools Friday.
“I have recalled Officers scheduled to be off tomorrow to report for duty at the schools,” Marcelli wrote on Facebook. “We will do everything in our power to protect our children.”
Marcelli’s Facebook post went on to say that he has seen comments about armed parents going to the schools to protect their children.
“I understand why you feel this way. I feel this way,” he wrote. “Please understand that the Officers and staff will not be able to differentiate between you and a threat. As a result, you will be treated as a threat.”
Anyone with information regarding the threat should contact school resource officer Jeremy Jarvis at 419-289-3639 ext. 115 or jarvis.jeremy@ashland-ohio.com.
North central Ohio has been plagued with a series of school threats this year. Madison High School was evacuated Tuesday after a bomb threat.
