Paloma Valley Student Arrested for Alleged Phone Threats

Updated story includes corrected information:

A 15-year-old Paloma Valley High School student was arrested this afternoon for allegedly making unspecified threats to two locations in Menifee, including the high school, police said.

Riverside County Sheriff's deputies were on campus Thursday afternoon and Friday to provide extra security and investigate threatening phone calls made on Wednesday and again on Thursday, according to a Sheriff's Department news release.

The news release identified the student as a 17-year-old. Dr. Jonathan Greenberg, superintendent of the Perris Union High School District, said that information is incorrect. He said the student is a 15-year-old male freshman  who was arrested on campus.

Police said the calls were made to the Sheriff's Department's 911 Center, not to the school, as was previously reported. The first call was made at 12:12 p.m. Wednesday from a caller making unspecified threats to an unknown location in Menifee. The department immediately opened an investigation to identify the caller. On Thursday, a similar 911 call was received by the Sheriff's Department in which the caller made unspecified threats toward Paloma Valley High School.

The investigation concentrated its effort on Paloma Valley and as a precaution extra patrol was deployed to the high school on Thursday afternoon and Friday morning. The investigation resulted in the arrest of the student at 1 p.m. The student was booked into Juvenile Hall.

"He thought it was a practical joke," Greenberg said about the student's response. "While nobody was in imminent danger, we took what we believe was appropriate action.

"We hope this will send a message to others. We want everybody to know we take these things seriously. If anyone else thinks this would be a funny thing to do, maybe they will think twice after this."

Based on the threats, The Menifee Police Department initiated a "Kids with Guns Protocol," which directed officers to search the suspect’s residence for any potential evidence. No other details were provided by police.

The school was not placed on lockdown, but Sheriff's deputies remained on campus until the arrest was made.

Anyone with further information regarding this incident is asked to contact Sergeant David Douglas at 951-210-1000.