MONONA, Wis. — Monona police have taken a father into protective custody following a bomb threat directed at One City Charter School.
Monona Police Chief Brian Chaney Austin said officers responded to the school after the threat was made around 7 a.m. Thursday morning. Officials said they were alerted to the threat via SnapChat.
Austin said police identified the person of interest and then took him into “protective custody.” He added that authorities are treating the incident as a “mental health situation.”
“We strongly believe that this is a mental health issue. The school understands that as well and we’re working together collaboratively to help that person,” Austin said Thursday morning. “We are looking for the best possible resolution for this case and right now that is the mental health angle.”
Police say they are connecting the person with mental health professionals after taking the person into protective custody.
“We’re not social workers, we’re not licensed therapists, so we’re relying on internal law enforcement training that we’ve received to assess people with mental illness,” Austin said.
One City Schools founder and CEO Kaleem Caire confirmed to News 3 Now that it was a parent who made the threat.
Caire said police were sweeping all four floors of the building to make sure it was clear.
Police say all of the students were reunited with their parents or guardians.
The school canceled classes for the rest of the day, according to Austin. School is expected to reopen on Friday morning.
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