Teen arrested after bomb threat at Hoffman Estates High School

A Hoffman Estates High School sophomore was arrested Thursday after police said he told classmates that a bomb was going to go off at school.

The 16-year-old was cited for felony disorderly conduct and released to his parents, Hoffman Estates police Lt. Rich Russo said. Police arrested the teen around noon at the school.

The police investigation found the teen had no explosives or other devices in his possession, and he told police he was joking, Russo said.

"There was no indication that he could carry out this threat," Russo added.

Police were called in about 10:30 a.m. Several students reported that the teen told them a bomb would go off at 10 a.m., and that they should get out of the school, police said.

Police already had extra officers at Hoffman Estates High Thursday because of threatening graffiti found Wednesday in a bathroom stall, Russo said.

But police don't believe the teen who was arrested Thursday is the same person who wrote the threat.

Disorderly conduct charges are upgraded from misdemeanor to felony when bomb threats are made.

An adult charged with felony disorderly conduct could get one to three years of jail time, Russo said. Juveniles typically are transferred to adult court only in extremely serious cases, however.

The student also could face expulsion from school under the state school code, which warns against intimidation and threats.

Contrary to an announcement made to students at the school and on the district's Web site, police arrested only one student in connection with the threat, Russo said.

Another teen was arrested and cited for possession of cannabis after police patrolled the campus, Russo said. That student had nothing to do with the threat.

To read Superintendent Roger Thornton's letter to parents, go to d211.org/letter_parents.shtml.