Menifee woman arrested after threat against Paloma Valley

By Doug Spoon, Editor

In the third incident this week – all at different Menifee schools – a Menifee woman was arrested for making criminal threats against Paloma Valley High School.

Julianna Ortega, 20 years old and a 2018 graduate of Paloma Valley, faces felony threats related to a school after she was identified as the source of threats posted on social media on Thursday, according to a Menifee Police Department news release.

MPD received a call from a concerned parent at 3:30 p.m. regarding the threats. The post said the person was on their way to the school at that time. Officers immediately responded to the school and detectives began to investigate the source of the threats.

Search warrants were obtained for the social media account used in the threats. Ortega, who was identified as the suspect, was known to MPD from recent contacts, police said. Police also learned Ortega was driving near Haun Road and was the sole occupant of the vehicle.

When contacted, Ortega admitted to posting the threat on social media. Police determined she acted alone and “did not have the current means to act on the stated threats.” She was booked into custody at the Cois Byrd Detention Center in Murrieta.

In the news release, MPD reminded residents that “all threats, especially those directed at school grounds, will be taken seriously. This includes threats to use firearms, other weapons, physical assault, or any other illegal activity. There is no such thing as a joke when it comes to these types of threats.”

“Student safety is a top priority for MPD and all three school districts within the City of Menifee. Having said that, we cannot do it alone. Student safety is everyone’s responsibility. We encourage anyone who may have information that could jeopardize the safety of a student to immediately report it to school administrators and the police.”

Ortega’s arrest came one day after two juveniles were arrested for making threats of violence against Heritage High School. The juveniles, both Heritage High students, were booked into Riverside County Juvenile Hall. Detectives determined the students did not have the means to follow through with the threats.

On Wednesday, MPD announced that a student at Ethan A. Chase Middle School was identified by police as a suspect and admitted being responsible for a threat made on social media against that school. The threat was deemed not credible. No arrests have been made, but according to MPD Captain Dave Gutierrez, the case has been forwarded to the District Attorney’s Office for review.