Westport Police have arrested a 29-year-old Southbury man, in connection with a November threat against Coleytown Elementary School.
On November 3, at 7:34 a.m., the Fairfield County Regional Dispatch Center received a text to 911, saying, “I’ll blow up Coleytown Elementary School.”
The school day was delayed 2 hours. Buses were rerouted to Coleytown Middle School, and people in the building were evacuated to CMS. Everyone in the middle school was advised to shelter in place.
Westport, Fairfield and Norwalk Police Department explosive detection canine units, along with the Stamford Police Department’s Bomb Squad, conducted a systematic search of the premises.
An extensive search yielded no explosives.
Coleytown Elementary School (foreground); Coleytown Middle School (rear). (Drone photo/Brandon Malin)
The cell phone from where the message originated was traced. It was found on the man, who was located by officers a short distance from the school while the search was ongoing.
He initially claimed that his phone had been hacked. Further investigation, including a forensic examination of the device, interviews with the suspect and coordination with other agencies investigating similar incidents, tied the allegation to the man.
An arrest warrant was sought and granted. He was charged with threatening, falsely reporting an incident, misuse of 911, computer crime in furtherance of terroristic purposes, and breach of peace.
He was unable to post $100,000 bond, and was arraigned today.