NE Valley Times

The Scottsdale Police Department has announced the arrest of a teenage male in connection with telephonic threats made to several Scottsdale schools and businesses. The threats, which occurred on April 8th and April 11th, prompted temporary lockdowns at some schools while authorities investigated their credibility.

On April 12th, law enforcement in the United Kingdom apprehended the teenager near Manchester for his role in making calls that threatened violence against educational institutions. The suspect allegedly claimed he was armed and intended to "shoot up" certain schools. However, investigations found no credible threat at any of the locations mentioned.

Schools impacted by these threats included Scottsdale Preparatory Academy, Notre Dame Preparatory Academy, Scottsdale Unified School District Office, Pima Traditional School, Hohokam Elementary, Cheyenne Traditional School, and Cochise Elementary. Additionally, local businesses such as Tommy V’s, OHSO Distillery, and Desert Schools Federal Credit Union were also targeted.

Scottsdale Police detectives collaborated with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) teams in Phoenix and London to track down the individual responsible for what is known as "swatting" calls. Besides making these threatening calls, the suspect faces accusations related to possessing and distributing indecent images of children online. He will remain in the UK to face legal proceedings there.

The police department expressed gratitude towards its partners in HSI Phoenix, HSI London, and UK law enforcement for their assistance in locating and arresting the suspect. They also issued a reminder that making violent threats against individuals or facilities is a serious crime that will be thoroughly investigated.