Police seize evidence from suspects homes
Morgan Hill – Two Sobrato students were arrested late Thursday evening on suspicion of conspiracy after police linked them to a bomb threat that forced the evacuation of the high school and unleashed rumors that a “Columbine-style” attack was planned. The Dispatch is not naming the two suspects because they are minors.
MHPD Cmdr. Joe Sampson said the two male students were taken into custody for interviews with detectives and their parents were contacted. They were later booked into Juvenile Hall after police searched their homes and removed “various items of evidence,” Sampson said Friday.
Sampson said Thursday there was no evidence of an imminent threat to students, but he said Friday he would leave that determination to the District Attorney.
Though he could not disclose details on the items taken from the homes, Sampson did confirm the items were “not firearms, bombs,” he said.
“We like for the DA to have the opportunity to review what we have, looking at all this and looking at this case, to see how it potentially ties into the case,” said Sampson.
It will be up to the District Attorney to review the evidence and determine what, if any, charges will be filed.
The incident began early Thursday morning, when a school resource officer was told at 9:19am by Sobrato administration of a possible bomb threat. A 14-year-old male and a 15-year-old male had allegedly researched ways to place explosive devices on the campus. The discussions between the two students had been going on for about one month, and were overheard by another student, who reported what was heard.
Police were called to the campus and decided to interview the two students. While they were enroute to the classroom of the first student, a fire alarm was activated when a construction worker broke a sprinkler head.
“Officers on the scene initially believed that the alleged attack was possibly in progress,” Sampson said.
The school was not placed in lockdown Thursday, based on the responding officers’ assessment of the situation, but students were evacuated when the fire alarm was set off.
“Whenever we have something like this, a threat of potential danger to the students and staff, we take it very seriously,” Sampson said.
