Students, Staff Safe After Fourth Bomb Threat Of School Year In Rye

RYE, N.Y. -- A bomb threat forced the evacuation of Rye High and Middle Schools Monday morning. Students and staff safely returned to their classrooms nearly two hours after the incident, which was the fourth time this school year the school has been threatened.

Students were evacuated at Rye High and Middle Schools Monday due to a bomb threat. Photo Credit: *Contributed*

Tom Renner

03/09/2015 4:00 p.m.

Superintendent Frank Alvarez released a letter to parents Monday afternoon that said Principal Patricia Taylor notified the Rye City Police Department and ordered a building evacuation shortly after 9:30 a.m. The threat came in the form of writing on the wall of a boys’ bathroom.

Students evacuated across the street, a safe distance from the building, and then onward to indoor evacuation locations. Middle school students were sent to Osborn School, and the high school students were taken to to Midland School.

The Rye City Police Department and County Police searched the Middle and High School building with the help of bomb-sniffing dogs. They deemed the building was safe and students. Faculty and staff were permitted to return to the building at 11:45 a.m.

"We understand that parents and guardians are frustrated and concerned by these continued threats,'' Alvarez said. "We want you to know that the Westchester County Police have reached out to the FBI and that the High Tech Crime Bureau in the Assistant District Attorney's office is engaged in the investigation into the threats. The District continues to cooperate with all of these law enforcement entities in every way possible."

Rye schools were evacuated in October due to a bomb threat, and another one in November. A bomb threat in December canceled a basketball game at Rye.

Rye Police and the Westchester County Police Departments are investigating. Anyone with information that would be helpful to the investigation please contact the Rye Police Department at 914-967-1234 or online.

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