Two juveniles have been charged by police in connection with a bomb threat Thursday at Wauconda High School that forced the evacuation of students and staff to a nearby church using school buses, according to police and school officials.
One student had made a written threat and a second student made a verbal threat, so the school was placed on hard lockdown around 12:30 p.m. and the decision was made by police and school officials to evacuate the school by using district buses, according to a statement by Wauconda police.
One juvenile was charged with disorderly conduct and released to parents, while another was charged with felony disorderly conduct and was scheduled to be transported late Thursday for processing at the Lake County Juvenile Detention Center in Vernon Hills, the statement added.
Police reported that "a number of students" were brought in for interviews while other police and firefighters searched the buildings and grounds along with bomb-sniffing dogs from the Lake County Sheriff’s Office and Naval Station Great Lakes, but after several hours it was determined the threat was not credible, according to police and school statements.
Bomb threat Joe Shuman / News-Sun Parents line up to pick up students after a bomb scare at Wauconda High School on Thursday, Feb. 2. Officials moved the students to The Chapel in Grayslake as the school was searched. Parents line up to pick up students after a bomb scare at Wauconda High School on Thursday, Feb. 2. Officials moved the students to The Chapel in Grayslake as the school was searched. (Joe Shuman / News-Sun)
Following the evacuation, students and staff were bused to The Chapel, 25270 Route 60 in Grayslake, and parents were told to pick up their students there, while staff and students with vehicles back at the high school had to wait until later Thursday to retrieve their vehicles, according to the school district website.
"Everyone did an outstanding job," said Superintendent Dr. Daniel Cole, thanking everyone involved in the incident from the police to the church on the school’s website.
"Also, I would like to thank the parents for their efforts to pick up their high school students from the Chapel," Cole added. "It was a long day for all involved."
Thursday’s incident was the second bomb threat in western Lake County this week.
Authorities are still investigating a bomb threat at a Jewish Community Center day care facility Tuesday morning near Lake Zurich that may be linked to similar calls made across the country, Lake County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Sgt. Christopher Covelli said.
Wauconda High School evacuated after bomb threat
Wauconda High School was evacuated Thursday afternoon after a bomb threat, according to school officials and police.
Social media alerts from the high school advised parents to pick up their children from The Chapel, 25270 Route 60, Grayslake.
According to a statement by Wauconda police, the school…
Wauconda High School was evacuated Thursday afternoon after a bomb threat, according to school officials and police.
Social media alerts from the high school advised parents to pick up their children from The Chapel, 25270 Route 60, Grayslake.
According to a statement by Wauconda police, the school…
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Police were called at 10:30 a.m. to the Elaine Frank JCC Apachi Day Camp at 23280 N. Old McHenry Road in unincorporated Lake Zurich after an employee received a bomb threat by telephone, according to a release. Students at the camp were evacuated and taken to another location while the building was searched with the help of dogs trained for finding explosives, Covelli said. Nothing suspicious was found and no injuries were reported.
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