The following is a news release from the Mason County Sheriff’s Office on last week’s bomb threat at North Mason High School:
On Wednesday June 3, 2015 at approximately 10:40 AM, an unknown person with a male voice called MACECOM 9-1-1 Dispatch Center and advised that he was going to blow up the new North Mason High School and then hung up.
The school was immediately called and all students began to evacuate the buildings. The Mason County Sheriff’s Office, the Washington State Patrol and the North Mason Regional Fire Authority immediately responded and assisted with the safe evacuation of all students, faculty and staff.
Parents and guardians were allowed to pick up their children after showing photo ID. Also, school bus service commenced at 12:30 PM.
Four Washington State Patrol Bomb K-9’s and their Handlers checked all of the buildings and were unable to find any trace of explosive devices. All of the buildings were finally cleared by 2:50 PM.
Sheriff Salisbury stated that we will never jeopardize the safety of our children and that all threats are taken seriously. The unfortunate problem with someone calling in a hoax is that they may not realize that in the rush of evacuation, the response of emergency personnel and even the stress of the concerns by parents and guardians, people can unintentionally be accidentally hurt. Fortunately, no one was injured and the students, faculty, staff and first responders are to be complimented.
Making a bomb threat is also a very serious felony offense under WA state law and the suspect could face up to ten years incarcerated in the state penitentiary.
A criminal investigation is ongoing and no other information is available at this time.