SHARE

Text Miscommunication Lead To Clearing Of At-Risk Youth Facility In Washington County: Sheriff

The campus of the Cedar Ridge Children's Home in Washington County was temporarily cleared on Monday morning when a miscommunication led to officials believing that there may have been an active shooting situation.

Cedar Ridge Children's Home

Cedar Ridge Children's Home

Photo Credit: Google Maps street view

Members of the Washington County Sheriff's Office were called to the Cedar Ridge Children's Home in Williamsport at around 11:40 a.m. on April 22, where there was a reported active shooter who was on the grounds.

Deputies cleared the campus and conducted an extensive investigation, which found no active threat on the property, it was later determined that a student sent a text message to another, which was misinterpreted and reported to a staff member who immediately called 911 as a precaution.

"There is no active threat to the community related to this incident," a spokesperson for the agency said. "The Sheriff's Office takes threats of mass violence against our community seriously; we encourage our community to report such threats immediately."

According to the Cedar Ridge Children's Home website, they "care for at-risk boys, primarily between the ages of 12 and 17. 

"Referred to us through the various juvenile and social service agencies across Maryland, our boys have experienced a wide variety of negative circumstances. Left to themselves, these boys are at-risk of sinking deeper into the mental health or juvenile justice systems."

Want breaking news in the DMV as it happens, or want to contribute? Join the DMV All Incidents Facebook group.

to follow Daily Voice Westminster and receive free news updates.

SCROLL TO NEXT ARTICLE