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Update on March 5, 2018 Incident at Hinchcliffe School

NEWS FROM O’FALLON CITY HALL FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Posted on: March 5, 2018 - 6:29pm

***PRESS RELEASE UPATE***

On March 7, 2018 the St. Clair County State’s Attorney issued the following charges against a 15-year old male juvenile from O’Fallon, Illinois.  These charges are the result of an investigation to damage sustained to the Hinchcliffe Elementary School building which included a threatening message. 

  • Count 1- Making a Terrorist Threat (Class X Felony)
  • Count 2- Attempt Making a Terrorist Threat (Class 1 Felony)
  • Count 3- Disorderly Conduct (Class 4 Felony)
  • Count 4- Criminal Defacement of Property (Class 4 Felony)

The juvenile appeared in St. Clair County Juvenile Court for the charges and was subsequently remanded to the St. Clair County Juvenile Detention Center.

***PRESS RELEASE UPATE***

On March 6, 2018, the O'Fallon Police Department arrested a 15-year old male juvenile for his involvement to the damage and threatening message written on the Hinchcliffe Elementary School building. The juvenile took full responsibility and explained the message was written as a joke for attention with no legitimacy. The juvenile suspect is currently being held at the St. Clair County Juvenile Detention Center. Because the investigation involves a juvenile, no further information can be released at this time. O’Fallon School District 90 and the O'Fallon Police Department will continue to work together communicating with the St Clair Co State's Attorney's Office for formal charges.

Any questions please contact the office of Police Chief Eric Van Hook at 618-624-4545.

O’Fallon, Illinois – On Monday, March 5, 2018, at approximately 6:53 a.m., a District 90 employee located damage and graffiti on the exterior of the Hinchcliffe School building. The damage consisted of cut window screens, drawings of a sexual nature, and a hand-written message on one of the windows stating, “I’m going to shoot this (explicit language) up.” There was no information discovered listing when and where the event may happen, nor was there any threat made to a specific person or group.

Members of the O’Fallon Police Department have been in continuous communication with O’Fallon District 90 Superintendent Carrie Hruby and O’Fallon District 90 Safety Director Mark Berry throughout the day as this incident is being investigated. Additional officers were assigned to be at Hinchcliffe School on March 5, 2018, as a precautionary measure. We want to make sure our parents, teachers, and community members are informed about this incident to prevent the possible spread of inaccurate information. 

At this time, we do not have any credible information indicating a threat to any of O’Fallon’s schools. As we continue to investigate this incident, we ask that anyone with information regarding this incident to contact:

Lt. Rob Schmidtke
[email protected]
618-624-4545 (work)
618-971-8675 (mobile)

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If you would like more information about this topic, please contact Lt. Rob Schmidtke at 618-624-4545.