by Geoff Fox
Classes at schools in Hancock have been in session for one week and already there has been a social media post threat referencing the school.
According to a social media post by the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, police concluded an investigation yesterday morning, Tuesday, September 1, into a reported post on social media making threats connected to the schools.
Throughout the night, deputies and investigators worked to identify the individual responsible for the threatening post.
Police said investigators determined the individual had reposted a social media message originally circulate in 2019 as a prank.
Investigators determined the post did not represent a legitimate threat to the schools or community, the Sheriff’s Office said in their post.
Although the matter was resolved, the Sheriff’s Office and Hancock Police Department maintained an additional law enforcement presence at area schools Tuesday morning as a precaution and to provide reassurance to students, staff, and the community.
The Sheriff’s Office said they understand the concern messages of that nature can create within the community and all reports involving potential threats to the schools are taken seriously and thoroughly investigated.
“We appreciate the cooperation of Washington County Public Schools and the Hancock Police Department throughout the investigation,” the Sheriff’s Office said in the post. “We also remind the public to rely on information from official sources and to avoid sharing unverified information or rumors on social media.”
The Sheriff’s Office also thanked the community for their patience and cooperation as they worked to thoroughly investigate the matter.
