The FBI, and FDLE have joined Seminole County deputies' hunt for the caller behind a bomb-threat hoax that forced numerous Seminole County schools to evacuate Friday.
SCSO officials say they received one call, and that caller stated there were bombs at three schools; Casselberry Elementary, Winter Springs Elementary – and Oviedo Elementary. Oviedo Elementary doesn’t even exist.
Deputies immediately were dispatched to more than a dozen schools across the county – including several in Casselberry and Altamonte Springs.
Every elementary school in Seminole County was searched.
Deputies say in an abundance of caution they evacuated at least eight schools and searched those schools, but deputies did not find any sort of suspicious device. Investigators say a gas can was found at an elementary school in Sanford, but it was determined to be harmless.
Eventually all of the schools were cleared, but deputies were still in the process of clearing some schools when it was time for student to normally dismiss from school.
There were traffic backups at many of the schools.
Parents had to go to nearby schools where students were taken when the schools were evacuated.
When students were moved to other locations during the bomb scare, their frightened parents rushed in the rain to get them.
They're now saying they didn't get any word from the school district about the threats, and school district officials are saying this was a hoax, while investigators work to locate the source of the call.
Parents told News 13 they are outraged they did not get an emergency notification via text or phone from Seminole County Public Schools.
“They had time to print this paper out to let us know what had happened but it’s been going on since, what’s it say, 1:30 p.m. No email, no text, nothing to the parents. We had to hear about it on the news," commented Casselberry Elementary Parent Megan Webb.
“Always check my news feed on my Twitter account and I saw Channel 13 talking about Seminole County Schools being evacuated and then I looked up at the list and Lake Orienta was one of them," shared Lake Orienta Elementary Parent Stephen Martinez.
“Now, I’m relieved before I was anxious because we didn’t get any calls or anything," began Lake Orienta Elementary Parent Jessica Rodriguez. “Yeah for any other reason we get calls saying school was cancelled or anything but we didn’t, I have not received any phone calls or anything from the school and when I tried to call the school it was closed, so not knowing was very nerve-racking,"
However, a Seminole County Public Schools spokesperson told News 13 the district did the best they could without a new phone notification system, by sending out updates via social media.
"Every parent doesn't necessarily follow us on Facebook but we put the information on our Facebook page; they don't necessarily all follow us on Twitter, but we have a Twitter page, @SCPSinfo. What I can say is we are in the process of upgrading our phone notification system, at the last board meeting that was approved, in a matter of a couple weeks we should have an upgrade to our phone notification system and that should allow us to do more real-time phone call-outs," said Michael Lawrence of Seminole County Public Schools.
The law enforcement agencies involved in the investigation are offering a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the caller. Anyone with information is urged to call Crimeline at 1-800-423-TIPS or the Seminole County Sheriff's Office at 407-665-6650.
“We have no tolerance for anyone who tries to bring fear to our community and to our schools,” said Sheriff Donald Eslinger. “We believe the person responsible should be identified and held accountable for their actions today.”
If the person is caught, News 13 Legal Analyst Jaya Balani says they could be charged with a second-degree felony for making a false bomb threat and could be sentenced to up to 15 years in prison.
The suspect(s) would also likely have to pay back restitution to pay for all the salaries of the law enforcement officers across Seminole County, who spent several hours Friday responding to the false bomb threats.
At least eight schools were evacuated at the height of the scare Friday. Students from the following schools were transported to other locations:
- Casselberry Elementary evacuated to South Seminole Middle
- Lawton Elementary evacuated to Oviedo High
- Lake Orieta Elementary/Hopper Center evacuated to Grace Church on Maitland Ave.
- Spring Lake Elementary evacuated to Brown's Gym
- Idyllwilde Elementary evacuated to Media Center
- Stenstrom Elementary evacuated to Reformed Theological Seminole (RTS)
Additionally, two Catholic early childhood centers were locked down in Altamonte Springs:
- St. Mary Magdalen Early Childhood Center
- Annunciation Early Childhood Center
LIVE social media updates
The most recent updates are at the top.
4:40 p.m.
Update from the Seminole County Sheriff's Office, which is now calling the bomb threats a hoax:
At approximately 1:30 p.m. today, the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office received a phone call advising there were bombs placed at three Seminole County elementary schools: Casselberry, Winter Springs, and Oviedo (which does not exist). Initial reports indicated that additional schools were receiving similar calls, but this proved to be inaccurate.
In an abundance of caution and working with law enforcement, Seminole County Public Schools made the determination to evacuate some schools while officers searched and cleared all public elementary schools. No suspicious devices were located. While searching the schools, deputies located a gas can outside of Idyllwilde Elementary School, which was evaluated and determined to be harmless.
Investigators are aggressively investigating the source of the call. No other information including the 911 call is available for release at this time.
Anyone with information about this crime is urged to call CrimeLine at 1-800-423-TIPS or the Seminole County Sheriff's Office at (407) 665-6650.
3:56 p.m.
All schools have been cleared. SCSO actively investigating the call source.
— Seminole County S.O. (@SeminoleSO) September 26, 2014
3:44 p.m.
We remain committed to the safety and well-being of all of our students.
— SCPS Info (@SCPSInfo) September 26, 2014
3:43 p.m.
All SCPS Schools have been cleared by law enforcement for dismissal.
— SCPS Info (@SCPSInfo) September 26, 2014
SCPS is working closely with law enforcement to determine the cause of this hoax.
— SCPS Info (@SCPSInfo) September 26, 2014
Buses may be delayed at schools because of this county-wide disruption.
— SCPS Info (@SCPSInfo) September 26, 2014
At no time were any students in danger nor any devices found.
— SCPS Info (@SCPSInfo) September 26, 2014
3:36 p.m.
Athletic buses will likely be delayed by approx. 30 minutes this evening!
— SCPS Info (@SCPSInfo) September 26, 2014
3:35 p.m.
***PARENTS***ALL Schools have been CLEARED!
— SCPS Info (@SCPSInfo) September 26, 2014
3:12 p.m.
Parents...ALL students ARE SAFE! But their may be delays in dismissal as Law Enforcement clears campuses.
— SCPS Info (@SCPSInfo) September 26, 2014
3:11 p.m.
***ALL Buses will likely be running 10/15 minutes behind today!
— SCPS Info (@SCPSInfo) September 26, 2014
3:08 p.m.
***PARENTS: Elementary Schools that have evacuated students to other locations are:
— SCPS Info (@SCPSInfo) September 26, 2014
Caseelberry Elementary to South Seminole Middle
— SCPS Info (@SCPSInfo) September 26, 2014
Lawton Elementary to Oviedo High
— SCPS Info (@SCPSInfo) September 26, 2014
Lake Orienta/Hopper Elementary to Grace Church on Maitland blvd
— SCPS Info (@SCPSInfo) September 26, 2014
Spring Lake Elementary to Brown's Gym
— SCPS Info (@SCPSInfo) September 26, 2014
Idyllwilde to Media Center, buses on ramp for dismissal
— SCPS Info (@SCPSInfo) September 26, 2014
Stenstrom Elementary to Reformed Theological Seminole (RTS)
— SCPS Info (@SCPSInfo) September 26, 2014
3:02 p.m.
Parents please be aware buses will likely be delayed as we work diligently to clear schools.
— SCPS Info (@SCPSInfo) September 26, 2014
2:45 p.m.
Official update from the Seminole County Sheriff's Office:
***Update*** Multiple schools Cleared
The following 12 elementary schools have been searched and are cleared: Bear Lake, Carillon, English Estates, Geneva, Heathrow, Walker, Pace Brantley, Partin, Rainbow, Sabal Point, Wekiva, and Winter Springs. Please follow SCSO’s Twitter feed @SeminoleSO for updates.
2:36 p.m.
Law enf has searched and cleared Carillon Elem & Winter Springs Elem.
— Seminole County S.O. (@SeminoleSO) September 26, 2014
2:34 p.m.
Law enf has searched and cleared Heathrow,
— Seminole County S.O. (@SeminoleSO) September 26, 2014
2:28 p.m.
Winter Springs PD adv that all their schools are clear.
— Seminole County S.O. (@SeminoleSO) September 26, 2014
2:28 p.m.
Law enf has searched and cleared the following schools: Wekiva, Partin, Geneva, Walker, Sabal Point, Pace Brantley, Rainbow & Bear Lake.
— Seminole County S.O. (@SeminoleSO) September 26, 2014
2:20 p.m.
Parents of elementary students, please be aware afternoon pick-up may be delayed at some schools as law enforcement works to clear campuses
— SCPS Info (@SCPSInfo) September 26, 2014
2:16 p.m.
Forest City Elem and Spring Lake Elem are additionally being evacuated.
— Seminole County S.O. (@SeminoleSO) September 26, 2014
2:12 p.m.
Lake Orienta in Altamonte also being evacuated
— Seminole County S.O. (@SeminoleSO) September 26, 2014
2:08 p.m.
News release from the Seminole County Sheriff's Office:
At approx
imately 1:30 today, the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office and Seminole County Public Schools received multiple phone calls advising there were bombs at Seminole County’s elementary schools. Law enforcement is on scene at every public elementary school. At this time, the following schools have been evacuated while law enforcement searches the buildings: Casselberry Elementary, Winter Springs Elementary, Lawton Elementary, English Estates Elementary, and Red Bug Elementary.
Investigators are working closely with the school district and are actively investigating the call source. Additional information will be provided when it becomes available.
Law enforcement is on scene @ every public elem school. 5 schools evacuated while law enf searches.
2:07 p.m.
Investigators are working closely with the school district and are actively investigating the call source.
— Seminole County S.O. (@SeminoleSO) September 26, 2014
2:06 p.m.
Casselberry elem, Winter Spgs elem, Lawton elem, English Estates Elem & Red Bug Elem are being evacuated.
— Seminole County S.O. (@SeminoleSO) September 26, 2014
2:03 p.m.
At approx 1:30 SCSO & SCPS recd multiple calls adv there were bombs @ Sem Co's elementary schools.
— Seminole County S.O. (@SeminoleSO) September 26, 2014
~1:30 p.m.
The time multiple threats were called in to multiple Smeinole County elementary schools, according to the Sheriff's Office.
This is a developing story. Check back and refresh this article for the latest updates.