3rd Threat In 9 Days Possibly Made Toward Heights Schools

CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, OH — For the third time in less than 10 days, a possible threat toward a Heights School has been discovered on social media by school officials.

Monticello Middle School was moved to remote learning on Wednesday after the threat was discovered. Cleveland Heights police have been contacted and are working with the district to both secure buildings and investigate the posting.

However, police believe the threat may have been intended for a Monticello Middle School in New York. Out of an abundance of caution, the Heights Schools have moved their own building into remote learning.

"We are tracking the posts and trying to confirm if there is a credible threat to our school or not," Cleveland Heights Police Chief Annette Mecklenburg told Patch. "Since the post was relayed to the school and us just this morning, the decision was made to err on the side of caution and keep the kids at home until we have time to investigate. The police department in New York has been looking into the threat as well."

The possible threat to Monticello follows a pair of threats made toward Heights High on Monday and on Dec. 6. Police are investigating the most recent threats and prosecutors brought charges against a teenager in connection to the Dec. 6 posting.

After an investigation, Cleveland Heights police came to believe a 16-year-old Heights High student had posted the threat on Dec. 6 — warning he would "shoot up" the High School, police said.

The student now faces charges of inducing panic and making terroristic threat, Mecklenburg previously told Patch.