2 Juveniles Arrested In School Threats: Meriden Police

MERIDEN, CT — Two Meriden juveniles have been arrested, and another is being investigated, in connection with possible school threats, according to police.

Police investigated two separate potential school threats on Thursday, according to Lt. Darrin McKay.

McKay said both threats were reported to police by Meriden school officials, and both were posted on social media – Facebook and Snapchat.

“One of these investigations would lead to the arrest of two Meriden juveniles,” McKay wrote in a news release. “The other investigation would lead to our identifying another Meriden juvenile and this investigation is ongoing and is being handled by members of our detective division.

“Both investigations stem from juveniles re-posting one of numerous social media posts that have been circulating on numerous social media platforms all over the state of Connecticut. This has been occurring across the state over the last couple of weeks and in fact, it has been occurring in numerous other states across the country.”

McKay said both investigations were “conducted expeditiously,” and police were in contact with Meriden Superintendent of Schools Mark Benigni, who was made aware of both investigations and updated as they progressed.

Benigni sent the following letter to the Meriden school community on Thursday night:

Hello Meriden Public School Families and Staff,

I am sorry for the late message this evening. We have been working closely with the Meriden Police Department as they continue to investigate online threats to our middle schools.

These online threats have been occurring across the state and nation, and people appear to be reposting them. These matters are taken very seriously, and reposting threats will lead to serious consequences. The Meriden Police Department has made two arrests and will have school resource officers or patrol officers at our middle schools tomorrow for precautionary measures.

Thank you for all of your support.

Mark D. Benigni, Ed.D

“As noted in the Superintendent’s message to parents and staff, the Meriden Police Department does take all threats of school violence seriously,” McKay wrote. “Any threat will be investigated thoroughly and expeditiously to determine its credibility and perpetrators will be arrested.”