Whitehall police arrest 16-year-old girl after swatting incident at school
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Detectives with the Whitehall Police Department arrested a juvenile suspect Friday on suspicion of filing a false report about an armed student at Whitehall-Yearling High School on Thursday, police said.
The suspect, a 16-year-old girl who lives in Columbus and does not attend Whitehall-Yearling High School, turned herself in after learning that detectives were looking for her. She was arrested around 11:30 a.m. and charged with swatting, a fourth-degree felony.
The Dispatch is not releasing her name at this time because she is a minor and does not face charges in adult court.
Whitehall-Yearling High School was placed on lockdown after a prank call was received reporting an armed student. Whitehall police investigated and searched the school and concluded there was no credible threat, the school said in a statement.
“Within 24 hours, our investigators had the suspect in custody,” Police Chief Mike Crispen said in a news release Friday. “We do not consider this matter to be a joke and will not do so.”
The teenager later confessed to making the prank call, the press release states.
If convicted, she could face commitment to the Ohio Department of Juvenile Justice for at least six months or a $400 fine.
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