FLAGLER COUNTY, Fla. — Buddy Taylor Middle School in Palm Coast received its fourth threat in four days, as the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office investigates a series of “swatting calls” this week.
Officials said the front desk at BTMS received a suspicious call this morning, prompting the school and nearby Wadsworth Elementary School to be placed on lockdown.
Deputies cleared the campus an hour later and normal school activities resumed.
Officials said Thursday that the sheriff’s office had received eight suspicious calls in 48 hours.
Officials say “swatting calls” are a rising trend nationwide where a caller makes fake reports of shootings or bomb threats to draw a large law enforcement presence and cause schools to lock down. In most cases, FCSO officials say the caller is a current or former student.
The sheriff’s office confirmed that at least five other Florida counties have recently received similar swatting calls.
While deputies say there is no credible threat to Flagler schools, they continue to take every threat seriously.
Making a threat to kill or place a bomb is a felony in Florida, punishable by up to five years in prison.
The sheriff’s office is asking anyone with information to:
Call FCSO at 386-313-4911
Email TIPS@flaglersheriff.com
Submit a tip on FCSO’s website
Submit a tip in the FCSO app