Saying they will not tolerate such behavior, Chelsea Schools and Chelsea Police are working with State authorities in offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to the successful prosecution of someone who made a hoax bomb threat on Chelsea High School last Thursday, Jan. 14.
“The superintendent and the Chelsea Police will not tolerate this kind of behavior,” said Supt. Mary Bourque. “ To this end, there is a $5,000 reward for information leading to the successful prosecution of the person who perpetrated this hoax. In this day and age, individuals such as this create an anxiety that people feel very deeply. It is not acceptable.”
The incident started on Thursday afternoon when officials were made aware of a possible bomb threat letter left unattended in an undisclosed location inside Chelsea High.
The threat indicated that the bombing would take place on Friday during regular school hours. Though officials said they were skeptical of the letter, they had to take it seriously.
So, a full contingent of bomb searching teams were called up. That included the Chelsea Police, the State Police Bomb Squad, and K-9 units from local surrounding departments.
On Thursday night, from 9-11 p.m., the entire building and the entire surrounding areas were combed for evidence of an explosive device. In the end, there was nothing found.
School, however, wasn’t cancelled.
There was a strong police presence at school on Friday, but officials did choose to go forward with the school day.
“Initiating a Bomb Threat – real or a hoax – is a felony in Massachusetts punishable by incarceration in State Prison, and we will prosecute those responsible directly or indirectly to the fullest extent of the law,” said Bourque.
If any individual believes he or she may possess any information that may lead to identifying those responsible for this violation of the law they may call the Chelsea Police at (617) 466-4855, or they may also call the anonymous “Crime Stoppers” Tip Line at (617) 466-4880.