Teens arrested for alleged online threats against schools in Riverside and Jurupa Valley

RIVERSIDE, Calif. (KABC) — A number of threats against schools posted on social media in recent weeks have largely proven to be unfounded, but some of them have led to the arrest of teenagers.

A 13-year-old girl was arrested Tuesday for allegedly posting a threat on social media against Chemawa Middle School in Riverside on Friday.

According to Riverside police, the student left a second post with the names of the classmates involved. Investigators searched her home and determined she had no access to weapons.

She was arrested and taken to a juvenile detention center in Riverside County.

Meanwhile, a 12-year-old boy was arrested Wednesday for making criminal threats against a Jurupa Valley middle school.

According to the Riverside County Sheriff's Department, on September 12 at approximately 9:45 a.m., the 5000 block of 42nd Street was thoroughly investigated by a school police deputy from the Jurupa Valley Sheriff's Station in reference to a criminal threat.

Further evidence led investigators to go to the suspect's Moreno Valley residence on Wednesday, where a search was conducted but no weapons were found.

The boy was placed in a youth detention center on suspicion of criminal threat; the investigation is still ongoing.

Last Tuesday, a 15-year-old boy was arrested for allegedly posting a threat on social media against Arlington High School in Riverside and its principal, police said. He also did not have access to weapons.

“The Riverside County Sheriff's Office takes all threats of violence at schools seriously and encourages all members of our community to report any online threats or suspicious activity to law enforcement or the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center to prevent planned acts of violence against our communities,” sheriff's officials said in a statement.

The identities of none of the arrested teenagers have been made public.

City News Service contributed to this report.