Classes at Pequot Lakes Schools resumed Tuesday, Dec. 14 - albeit with a two-hour delay - after perceived threats against the district were deemed not to be credible by administrators, the Pequot Lakes Police Department and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.
The district canceled classes Monday, Dec. 13, after the district received a number of calls regarding an alleged photo on social media depicting a Pequot Lakes student holding a gun and making threats. An investigation by the Pequot Lakes Police Department and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension discovered the photo was at least five weeks old and there was no evidence of a credible threat to the district.
“The attendance rate at Eagle View Elementary School was around 90% on Tuesday, which is typical,” a joint statement from Interim Superintendent Kurt Stumpf and Police Chief Eric Klang said. “The attendance rate for middle school and high school students was around 82%, which is a little less than normal. There was continuous police presence throughout the school day to provide an extra sense of security.”
An investigation into a student bringing a Swiss Army knife to the high school parking lot Friday, Dec. 10, concluded as well and will be turned over to the Crow Wing County Attorney’s Office for further review.
All additional threats via social media, which have been reported to authorities, have been investigated and thoroughly vetted, a joint statement said. More than 30 students were interviewed during the investigation and no evidence of any threats were verified.
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“Since people have different life experiences, the situation our school-community just experienced affects us differently,” the joint statement reads. “Students and staff report being at different places in working through the recent events, but are overall happy to be back. The school district will continue to support students and staff in processing through this event.”
