PRESS RELEASE For Immediate Release
- STUDENTS EVACUATED AFTER BOMB THREAT AT LOCAL MIDDLE SCHOOL
March 13, 2008
Riverbank, CA- A local middle school was evacuated today after
receiving an anonymous bomb threat over the phone. Sheriff's Deputies
from Riverbank Police Services searched the campus with help from the
Stanislaus Consolidated Fire Department and search dogs. Nothing
suspicious was located and investigators are asking anyone with
information to come forward.
Today at about 11:50am, an anonymous male called the school office at Cardozo Middle School located at 3525 Sante Fe Road in Riverbank. The caller gave very little information but said there was some type of explosive devise on the campus. School officials immediately contacted the Stanislaus County Sheriff's Department who responded along with personnel from the Stanislaus Consolidated Fire Department. Riverbank Unified School Superintendent Joseph Galindo was at the scene and called for the evacuation of all students from the campus while authorities searched for any suspicious devices. Members of the Stanislaus County Probation Department also arrived to provide assistance as well as officers from the California Highway Patrol and Modesto Police Department.
According to Galindo there were close to 700 students who were at school today and all were safe and accounted for. School district officials used an automated phone messaging system to make over 1,600 phone calls to parents providing information about what had occurred and how they could contact their children. Students were moved to a community center across the street from the school where most of them were picked up by parents or relatives by about 1:30 pm.
Riverbank Unified School District contracts with Kids Incorporated to conduct searches of their campus using specially trained dogs. Personnel from Kids Incorporated responded with two dogs to help search for explosives or any other suspicious items on the campus. The search was completed by 3:00pm and nothing was located. Galindo said he will utilize the automated phone messaging system to contact parents this evening and give them an update on what occurred.
Today at about 11:50am, an anonymous male called the school office at Cardozo Middle School located at 3525 Sante Fe Road in Riverbank. The caller gave very little information but said there was some type of explosive devise on the campus. School officials immediately contacted the Stanislaus County Sheriff's Department who responded along with personnel from the Stanislaus Consolidated Fire Department. Riverbank Unified School Superintendent Joseph Galindo was at the scene and called for the evacuation of all students from the campus while authorities searched for any suspicious devices. Members of the Stanislaus County Probation Department also arrived to provide assistance as well as officers from the California Highway Patrol and Modesto Police Department.
According to Galindo there were close to 700 students who were at school today and all were safe and accounted for. School district officials used an automated phone messaging system to make over 1,600 phone calls to parents providing information about what had occurred and how they could contact their children. Students were moved to a community center across the street from the school where most of them were picked up by parents or relatives by about 1:30 pm.
Riverbank Unified School District contracts with Kids Incorporated to conduct searches of their campus using specially trained dogs. Personnel from Kids Incorporated responded with two dogs to help search for explosives or any other suspicious items on the campus. The search was completed by 3:00pm and nothing was located. Galindo said he will utilize the automated phone messaging system to contact parents this evening and give them an update on what occurred.
Detectives will be investigating this incident and ask anyone with
information to call Crime
Stoppers at (209) 521-4636.
Callers to Crime
Stoppers can remain anonymous and may be eligible for a cash reward.
For information regarding this press release please contact Stanislaus County Sheriff's Department Public Information Officer Royjindar Singh (209) 567-4401.
For information regarding this press release please contact Stanislaus County Sheriff's Department Public Information Officer Royjindar Singh (209) 567-4401.