CABOT, AR — A teenage boy will be in court later this month accused of phoning in several threats to a Central Arkansas school.
The 14-year-old boy, from Louisiana, used technology to try and conceal his identity. But, after a nearly four month investigation, the law caught up with him.
It started with a phone call to Cabot Junior High School South back in November. The number on caller ID turned out to be a Google Voice phone number.
Sgt. Keith Graham said, “Where they’ll use their X-Boxes or computers to call somebody to make calls like this.”
Google Voice is a free phone service anyone can use. You just pick a phone number, which is connected to your phone, and that’s what shows up on caller ID. So, the person will never actually know your real phone number.
Typically, it wouldn’t be easy to trace, but technology can also work in the law’s favor. Investigators with the State Attorney General’s Office used a software program to help track the caller down.
Sgt. Graham said, “When we need help, we can call and they’ll help us instantly.”
Police say a student at the school also gave them information after he met the suspect online.
Sanders Hioburn, a student at the school, said, “Obviously we’re glad they figured out who it was.”
A total of four phone threats were made to the school. In one, the caller said he would bomb a bus. In another, he threatened to shoot students and staff.
Hioburn said, “They had police surround the school and we didn’t know what was going on…after we found out, it was kind of frightening.”
While those calls were made to Cabot, the person actually called from Louisiana. He’s also accused of making threats to a school in Oregon.
Sgt. Graham said, “Honestly, it’s not shocking anymore cause you see this in the news all the time.”
Police say they can only assume the boy wanted attention or did it for bragging rights. But students, who were evacuated because of his prank, say it’s nothing to brag about.
Hioburn said, “It was surprising to hear it was a 14-year-old kid.”
The teen’s name will not be released because he’s a minor. Acadia Parish, Louisiana police arrested him. His first court appearance will be on March 25th.
If you would like to follow Melissa Schroeder’s reports on Facebook, you can click here and like her page.
The 14-year-old boy, from Louisiana, used technology to try and conceal his identity. But, after a nearly four month investigation, the law caught up with him.
It started with a phone call to Cabot Junior High School South back in November. The number on caller ID turned out to be a Google Voice phone number.
Sgt. Keith Graham said, “Where they’ll use their X-Boxes or computers to call somebody to make calls like this.”
Google Voice is a free phone service anyone can use. You just pick a phone number, which is connected to your phone, and that’s what shows up on caller ID. So, the person will never actually know your real phone number.
Typically, it wouldn’t be easy to trace, but technology can also work in the law’s favor. Investigators with the State Attorney General’s Office used a software program to help track the caller down.
Sgt. Graham said, “When we need help, we can call and they’ll help us instantly.”
Police say a student at the school also gave them information after he met the suspect online.
Sanders Hioburn, a student at the school, said, “Obviously we’re glad they figured out who it was.”
A total of four phone threats were made to the school. In one, the caller said he would bomb a bus. In another, he threatened to shoot students and staff.
Hioburn said, “They had police surround the school and we didn’t know what was going on…after we found out, it was kind of frightening.”
While those calls were made to Cabot, the person actually called from Louisiana. He’s also accused of making threats to a school in Oregon.
Sgt. Graham said, “Honestly, it’s not shocking anymore cause you see this in the news all the time.”
Police say they can only assume the boy wanted attention or did it for bragging rights. But students, who were evacuated because of his prank, say it’s nothing to brag about.
Hioburn said, “It was surprising to hear it was a 14-year-old kid.”
The teen’s name will not be released because he’s a minor. Acadia Parish, Louisiana police arrested him. His first court appearance will be on March 25th.
If you would like to follow Melissa Schroeder’s reports on Facebook, you can click here and like her page.