DARRINGTON – FBI agents detained the man who they believe was responsible for sending e-mail threats that canceled school for 525 students on Monday and Tuesday.
The man was interviewed at his home in Darrington Tuesday night after federal agents were able to trace the threatening e-mails to him, Snohomish County sheriff’s spokeswoman Jan Jorgensen said Wednesday.
The man was taken to a local hospital for an evaluation. He was later released to his mother, Jorgensen said, adding that the man is cooperating with police.
He has not been arrested, but detectives are continuing their investigation. The teen could face federal and state criminal charges, Jorgensen said.
He is not a student at Darrington High School, but attended school in the district for short time years ago. Police are unclear about the motivation behind the messages.
“All we really know about him is that he spends a lot of time on the computer,” Jorgensen said. “We know that the threats were a hoax.”
Classes were canceled Monday after a bomb threat aimed at the elementary school was sent to 25 teachers and administrators. The three-school campus was evacuated and students were sent home. A bomb-sniffing dog searched the campus twice but found nothing.
Classes were canceled again Tuesday when a handful of teachers and administrators received e-mails stating that students would be killed.
Federal agents with the Northwest Cyber Crimes Task Force in the Seattle office of the FBI were in Darrington Wednesday to determine who sent the messages, FBI spokeswoman Robbie Burroughs said.
“The FBI has done an outstanding job in resolving this case quickly,” Jorgensen said.
Classes were back in session Wednesday. Extra counselors were on hand for students, district spokeswoman Trudy LaDouceur said. Students will have to make up one missed day, extending the school year to June 16, she said.
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