While most R.D. Parker Collegiate staff and students are off on an unexpected four-day weekend, one 16-year-old student is facing criminal charges and an upcoming court appearance
The school cancelled classes for Nov. 12 after writing in a school washroom was brought to the attention of school officials.
In a letter sent home to parents Nov. 10, R.D. Parker principal Ryan Land noted that "there has been some writing in one of the washrooms at R.D. Parker that has caused concern. Due to the specific nature of the threat, we will need to close school on Friday, Nov. 12." Students were already scheduled for a day off Nov. 11 due to the Remembrance Day statutory holiday. Land also said that the school will reopen as normal on Nov. 15, with a police presence in place as a precaution.
"The content of the threat caused authorities to take it very seriously," said RCMP Cpl. Bryan Weatherhald. He added that "RCMP investigators are not reporting on the nature of the threat other than it was not directed at any one person."
On Nov. 11, Thompson RCMP executed a search warrant in a private residence described as "in the Westwood area." A 16-year-old male R.D. Parker student was arrested and charged with uttering threats. "RCMP believe at this time in the investigation that the youth acted alone," said Weatherhald.
As the student is under the age of 18, his name cannot be released under the Youth Criminal Justice Act. Weatherhald said that the student was remanded into custody with a first court appearance to be made Nov. 15, and police continue to investigate.
According to an earlier statement by RCMP Insp. Ken Poulsen, the RCMP were involved in consultations with R.D. Parker and the School District of Mystery Lake on the matter of class cancellations.
This is the second such incident at R.D. Parker this school year. On Sept. 22, a bomb threat was discovered on a washroom wall, with the exact wording "bom [sic] threat this isn't a threat but it's a promise." On this occasion, it was decided that there was no need to send students home or have them miss any class time, though an extra police presence was on hand as a precaution.
In the letter sent home to parents after the September incident, RCMP called the threat "questionable in nature," wording that was not present this time. "We would be willing to dismiss students if there was any degree of credibility," Land said at the time.
