MIDDLETOWN, Ohio — A 17-year-old teen boy has been charged with inducing panic after allegedly placing a device in a bathroom at Middletown High School, prompting an explosive device investigation that resulted in the early dismissal of the school.
The high school was put on lockdown Wednesday around 11 a.m. after Middletown police and the high school administration received information about a suspicious package at the school, according to Missy Knight, Middletown's communications manager.
The unidentified device was located, and the school was evacuated. Students were dismissed for the day.
Around 12:10 p.m., Middletown police gave the district the all-clear. Though students were dismissed, the high school opened back up and the "soft lockdown" was lifted on the middle school. A soft lockdown means all students and staff remain inside, and all building doors that lead outside are locked. Normal school activities continue inside the building though.
The 17-year-old has not been identified because of his age. He was also disciplined by the school, the city of Middletown said, but they did not provide any further information on what kind of discipline.
"The Middletown division of police and Middletown City Schools are dedicated to the safety and security of the students and staff," Knight wrote in a press release. "Threats to the safety and security will be investigated and will not be tolerated."
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