UPDATED: Coal City Police investigate threat, students not at risk

By: 
STAFF REPORT

     The Coal City Police Department reports it received information on Tuesday, May 22, from the administration at Coal City Middle School that a threat of violence was a made toward a juvenile and family member outside of the school.
    “Since being made aware of this incident, the Coal City Police Department has investigated this complaint that was brought to light by the Coal City School District,” said Sgt. Tom Logan.
    In a release issued Tuesday afternoon by the Unit 1 School District, district officials report that after an investigation was completed by law enforcement and middle school administration, it was determined that the threat was unfounded.
    Logan said the police department wants the community to know there was no threat made toward the school, its faculty or student population at the school.
    “The juvenile who made this threat and their family have been identified and are currently cooperating with this law enforcement investigation and school officials. The Coal City Police Department is continuing this investigation in collaboration with the Grundy County State’s Attorney’s Office,” Logan said. At this time the juvenile's name is not being released.
    The school district’s release stated, “At no time did local law enforcement recommend that the middle school go on lockdown because students were not at risk.”
    Logan, the department’s public information officer,  reiterated there is no current threat to the public.     
    This is the second time police have been called to investigate an alleged threat brought to the attention of administrators at the middle school.
    “We would like to communicate to all parents and citizens to encourage your children to speak up to identify threats ahead of time so we can continue to stop all violence before it starts,” Logan said.
    Unit 1 School officials are asking parents/guardians to reinforce with their children the serious consequences of making any statements regarding threats of violence.