14-year-old Arrested in Bomb Threat to Panas High School

by Kieran O'Leary

Westchester County Police this morning arrested a 14-year-old boy and charged him with phoning in a false bomb threat earlier this week to Walter Panas High School in Cortlandt.

The youth was arrested at his home following an investigation by detectives from the county police General Investigations Unit. In addition, the youth faces a similar charge from the Yorktown Police Department in connection with a bomb threat called in to Lakeland High School in Shrub Oak.

On Monday morning, March 31, separate calls were made to Walter Panas and Lakeland high schools claiming that the schools were going to “blow up.” Both schools were evacuated.

Members of the county police Hazardous Devices Unit, known more informally as the Bomb Squad, conducted a sweep of both schools, including using canines trained to identify explosive materials. HDU officers determined that it was safe for students and staff to return to both buildings.

“Incidents like these disrupt the education of students, cause concern among parents and others in the community, and divert police resources unnecessarily,” Commissioner George N. Longworth said. “We will 
investigate these incidents vigorously and seek to apprehend those responsible.”

The youth was released to a parent with an appearance ticket requiring him to appear later this month in Westchester County Family Court. He was charged as a juvenile. 

The equivalent charge in the penal code for persons over 16 years of age would be Falsely Reporting an Incident 1st Degree, which is a felony.