Greenwood PD provides update re: school bomb scare

The Greenwood Police Department recently issued a press release providing additional context regarding the Feb. 13 bomb scare at Greenwood Elementary School.

'On Feb. 13, law enforcement responded to an incident at the Greenwood Elementary School where it was indicated a student may have had an explosive device in their backpack,' wrote Police Chief Andrew Kohnert in a press release last Friday.

'As of Feb. 20, with assistance from the Clark County Sheriff's Department, a full investigation into the incident has been completed. After speaking to several witnesses directly involved with the incident, it has been determined no physical threat was made against any student or the school.

'The investigation has uncovered that a student made comments to other students several weeks prior to the incident about a toy in their backpack being a bomb, and later recanted this information to students, indicating they were joking. At no point in the weeks leading up to the

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incident did any student bring this information to the attention of teachers at the school. It was also determined the student at no time had any intent to threaten or harm anyone, and is not considered to be a threat.

“While this incident is nothing less than traumatic, it is important to remember the response given to this incident is the same response given to any other similar incident.

“The Greenwood Police Department again would like to thank their partners in law enforcement for their assistance with this matter, as well as the community, students, and staff at the School District of Greenwood for their continued cooperation and understanding as this investigation was completed. As previously mentioned, the safety and security of the community is our top priority.”

On the afternoon of Feb. 13, a Greenwood Elementary staff member was notified of a potential bomb in a student’s backpack. The building was cleared and students were kept on buses until their parents could pick them up or they went home on their normal bus route. Law enforcement determined the suspected bomb device was a toy. The building was swept and cleared for re-entry on Feb. 14.

The Greenwood Police Department can be reached at 715-267-6215.