Oil City, Punxsy, Karns City Schools Contend with Threats

Joanne Bauer

Joanne Bauer

Published February 26, 2018 5:30 am
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NORTHWEST PA (EYT) — In the wake of the Parkland, Florida school shooting, regional schools have been dealing with multiple threats.

(Photo above: Oil City High School.)

Oil City Area School District Threats

On Friday, February 23, Oil City Police Department issued the following press release involving threats reported in the Oil City Area School District (OCASD):

Within the past two weeks, the Oil City Police Department has responded to the Oil City Senior High School (OCHS) and Middle School (OCMS) on eight separate occasions for reported threats of students possessing firearms on school property, acts of aggression towards other students and faculty, and incidents with the intent to cause alarm and instill fear.

Working in conjunction with OCHS and OCMS staff, all of the juvenile actors involved have been introduced to the Venango County Juvenile Justice System. All actors have been criminally prosecuted on charges ranging from Causing/and or Risking a Catastrophe, Felony Terroristic Threats, Simple Assault, Misdemeanor Terroristic Threats, Misdemeanor Disorderly Conduct, as well as others.

The Oil City Police Department and OCASD have taken a Zero Tolerance approach to these incidents.

Any actor involved has been criminally prosecuted.

Any actors that may decide to demonstrate similar behavior in the future will be criminally prosecuted as well.

The Zero Tolerance approach applies to incidents of utterances and joking, in addition to willful misconduct.

Punxsutawney Area School District Threats

In Jefferson County, the Punxsutawney Area School District had to cope with multiple threats last week.

According to school Superintendent Dr. Thomas Lesniewski, there were four separate threats by four students, two each in the high school and middle school.

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“They were not direct threats to anyone specific, but they were all taken very seriously and the students have been punished and the police were contacted,” Dr. Lesniewski told exploreJeffersonPA.com.

“It’s a credit to our student body that they informed their teachers, and we were able to deal with it quickly.”

Lesniewski said one of the threats included writing on the bathroom wall. Three of the threats were bomb-related and another involved the threat of a shooting.

As for discipline, Dr. Lesniewski said punishment could include up to a 10-day suspension and a possible disciplinary hearing. Charges have also been filed against some of the juvenile students involved in the threats.

“Our main goal is to try and help our students, so it’s not all about punishment, but hopefully everyone got the message that this type of behavior isn’t acceptable,” Dr. Lesniewski said.

He also said the school district would soon hold a practice drill for a lockdown situation.

“This is a difficult situation for schools to deal with and it’s not something we’re going to fix tomorrow, but we’ll keep working on it,” Dr. Lesniewski said.

Calls to Punxsutawney Borough Police Department for comment were not immediately returned.

Karns City Area School District Threat

In Butler County, a student made a bomb threat against Karns City High School on Tuesday, February 20.

Butler-based State Police say the threat was written in the school’s bathroom.

KC High 7

(Photo above: Karns City High School.)

Eric D. Ritzert, Superintendent of Karns City Area School District, issued the following release on their website:

February 20, 2018

Dear Parents and Guardians:

As you are aware, a bomb threat was discovered at the High School today. We immediately notified state police and evacuated the building. State police worked with our school police officers to determine the threat was not credible.

The safety of our students and staff is a priority at Karns City Area School District. The district takes all threats very seriously and will implement all appropriate disciplinary action under our student code of conduct and the Pennsylvania State Law.

If you see or hear any disturbing statement involving our schools or our students, please immediately report it to local law enforcement and the school district.

At Karns City Area School District, we have five school police officers, all of whom are retired state police officers, working in our schools. In addition, we have many other safety measures in place and will continue to strive to improve school safety in our district. If you ever have questions or concerns about school safety, please contact your child’s principal.

Sincerely,

Eric D. Ritzert

Superintendent

Karns City Area School District

On Friday, February 23, Butler-based State Police arrested 18-year-old Garrett Michael DeBacco, of Cowansville.

DeBacco, a junior at Karns City High School, is accused of making the bomb threat against the school.

According to court documents, DeBacco was arraigned at 2:45 p.m. on February 23 in Magisterial District Judge Lewis E. Stoughton on the following charge:

– Bomb Threats — Threatens Placement Of Bomb, Felony 3

Unable to post $50,000.00, he was lodged in the Butler County Jail.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 27, with Judge Stoughton presiding.

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