Teen faces charges for bomb threat at Albert Gallatin High School
YORK RUN – A ninth-grader faces charges for a bomb threat Wednesday at Albert Gallatin Area Senior High School. State police said the 16-year-old girl, who was identified as a suspect and interviewed at the school, eventually admitted to writing the threat.
“There is a bomb in the building” was the written message police said was found around 9:15 a.m. inside the girls bathroom in hallway A of the school’s second floor. School officials evacuated students and faculty, and the school was searched.
“As soon as we found out there was a threat, especially with everything that is going on with the war, we wanted to get these kids to the safest place as soon as possible so we could assess the situation,” administrative assistant Tony Tokish said.
Tokish, who helps oversee security in the district, said district officials are dealing with the recent threats, and increased staff meetings and greater awareness should help overall security.
Superintendent Walter Vicinelly said the immediate evacuation was necessary and in accordance with protocol in such situations.
“We had a conference call with the administration and security to assess the situation, and we made a decision to immediately evacuate the building. All threats we take very seriously,” Vicinelly said.
Cpl. Kenneth Munshower of the state police Bureau of Special Emergencies and Special Operations Unit and his dog searched the school but found no bomb. Smithfield and Fairchance volunteer fire departments assisted at the scene.
State police said criminal charges against the girl will be filed at the Fayette County Juvenile Probation Office.
This is the second bomb threat at the school in as many weeks.
Students went home last Wednesday when a written bomb-threat message was found hanging on the wall inside stair tower C, at 7:30 a.m.
State police and firefighters from Fairchance, Collier and Smithfield responded at that time for a search that turned up no bomb.
Vicinelly also addressed complaints from some parents about students being kept outside for a lengthy period of time during the evacuation without their coats.
“We have to provide for their safety and their well-being as best as we can,” Vicinelly said. He noted that the students did have an opportunity to take their coats with them as they evacuated the building.
Trooper James Pierce from the Uniontown station is the investigating officer for both incidents.
Vicinelly, in a written statement after the first threat, listed priorities of the school district’s crisis policy when responding to such threats.
They are to “see to it that there is no threat to the safety of the students,” to inform parents, to “avoid unnecessary interruptions to the educational process” and to “make every effort” toward the apprehension and prosecution of anyone guilty of making a bomb threat.
“We are emphasizing to the students and to everybody that we do take this very seriously. And if we do determine that someone is doing this as far as a hoax, we will follow district policy to its fullest extent,” Vicinelly said.