Phony Bomb Threat
MENIFEE (CNS) – A bogus bomb threat targeting a Menifee school Monday prompted authorities to place the campus on lockdown until they were certain the call was a fake.
The phony threat was directed at the Santa Rosa Academy, a K-12 charter school on La Piedra Road with an enrollment in excess of 1,500 students.
According to the Menifee Police Department, the caller, whose identity has not been confirmed, contacted dispatchers shortly after 11 a.m., claiming there was an explosive on the school grounds.
“Officers quickly arrived on scene, and the campus was put on lockdown out of an abundance of caution while the threat was investigated,” agency spokesman Chase Coburn said. “Our dispatch center was quickly able to identify that the number associated with the threat had a history of previous swatting calls.”
Swatting involves contacting law enforcement agencies from distant locations and providing false information related to threats and emergencies, in hopes of generating a large police response.
“The campus remained on lockdown while officers conducted a search of the school and surrounding area to ensure the safety of all students and staff,” Coburn said.
With the assistance of Riverside County sheriff’s personnel, the police department was able to verify the threat had no basis, and the lockdown was lifted by early afternoon.
Investigators were working to ascertain the identity of the caller, according to Coburn.
Anyone with information was asked to contact the department at 951-723- 1500.
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