SURPRISE, AZ — A 17-year-old boy is facing felony charges after police say he posted an online threat targeting Imagine Prep School in Surprise.
Surprise police say they were first alerted to the threatening social media post on Thursday, January 22, prompting the school to roll out extra safety measures the following day.
In a letter sent to families Thursday night, Imagine Prep Surprise administrators said they became aware of the post earlier in the evening and immediately contacted police. The school said there was no indication the threat was credible, but precautions were put in place out of an abundance of caution.
Police later arrested the teen on Friday, January 23, at a home in Phoenix. Investigators say he is not a student at Imagine Prep and was taken into custody without incident.
The teen faces felony charges, including making a terroristic threat and disrupting an educational institution. He was booked into a juvenile detention center.
Law enforcement remained on campus throughout the school day Friday. The school also added staff during arrival, lunch, and dismissal, limited building entry during the day, and closed the school field.
All after-school activities were canceled, including a girls' varsity basketball game scheduled for Friday.
Surprise Police Chief Evan Becher thanked students who reported the threat, saying their tips helped keep the school community safe.
"Police are reminding the public that any threat involving a school is taken seriously," Becher said.
