By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
The Hays Police Department has arrested a 14-year-old Hays Middle School student on a charge of criminal threat for a bomb threat made against the school on March 30.
A threat of a bomb inside of a school at 201 W. 29th was made to the Kansas Bureau of Investigation tip line on March 30.
A quick search by the KBI determined the only school in the state with that address was Hays Middle School.
SEE RELATED STORY: Hays Middle School placed on room hold after bomb threat
SEE RELATED STORY: Hays USD 489: No explosives found; seeking information on the incident
Kansas Highway Patrol bomb dogs, as well as other law enforcement, assisted in clearing the building that evening. No explosive devices were found.
The threat was tracked back to a school-issued device and then to the suspect. The suspect was arrested the day after the threat.
Hays Police Chief Don Scheibler said he was uncertain of the motivation behind the threat, but he believed it was meant as a prank.
The gender of the suspect was not released.
Scheibler thanked the district staff and administration, Hays Middle School staff, the USD 489 technology department, Ellis County Sheriff's Office, Kansas Bureau of Investigation and the Kansas Highway Patrol for their assistance in the case.
"The school district took the threat very seriously, and their plan worked very well," Scheibler said. "They had a quick response. We want all of our community to feel safe, especially in our schools."