UPDATE 2:30PM 01/04/2017
Statement released from Benton Schools & Police.
The Benton School District received a threatening email on Tuesday morning at about 10:30 AM. Administrators immediately contacted the Benton Police Department and placed all schools on lock-down. As a precautionary measure, all buildings were evacuated.
The Benton School District and the Benton Police Department are working jointly, but the issue has not been resolved. The email was specific to yesterday. The FBI has been contacted and the email is believed to have been from an encrypted email server. This investigation is a priority, but may take some time to unravel due to the complexity of the technology that was used.
As a precautionary measure, we have increased visual and physical police and school official presence on all campuses.
Most important is to note that we as a community should always be vigilant, talk to our children, convey information to those at the schools and in our community that can solve these types of issues to make our schools and community a safer place. The Benton Police Department and the Benton School District are committed to the safety of all students and staff. Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to contact an employee of the Benton School District or the Benton Police Department at 501-778-1171 or 501-315-TIPS. Individuals also may send us an anonymous crime tip about this incident to CRIMES (274637) with the keyword BNPD in the body of the text or go to www.crimereports.com to leave a tip. A crime tip can also be submitted via the official Benton Police Department app found on iTunes and Google Play.
Benton School District and Benton Police Department
UPDATE 12:48PM 01/03/2017
OFFICIAL BNPD PRESS RELEASE
BNPD INVESTIGATES THREATENING EMAIL SENT TO BENTON SCHOOL OFFICIALS
Officials with the Benton School District reportedly received a threat via email on Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2017 and all school district facilities were immediately placed on locked down. Officers with the Benton Police Department were notified of the email about 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2017.
Benton School District officials made a decision to clear all employees from all school facilities, who were there preparing for students to return to school on Wednesday.
This is an on-going investigation in coordination between the Benton School District and the Benton Police Department.
Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to contact the Benton Police Department at 501-778-1171 or 501-315-TIPS. Individuals also may send us an anonymous crime tip about this incident to CRIMES (274637) with the keyword BNPD in the body of the text or go to www.crimereports.com to leave a tip. A crime tip can also be submitted via the official Benton Police Department app found on ITunes and Google Play.
UPDATE 12:10PM 01/03/2017
Spokesperson Matt Burks with the Benton Police Department stated that the BNPD is investigating the validity of the email that was received by the Benton Superintendent of Schools Tuesday morning. He said they take all seriously and put the schools on lockdown as a safety precaution. They are also stepping up patrol around the schools.
No children were present at the schools today and most of the teaching staff was out as well, due to the holiday.
ORIGINAL 11:53AM 01/03/2017
MySaline has unofficial information that the Superintendent of Benton Schools has received a threat that someone would be shooting at all Benton schools and therefore all schools have been evacuated of staff.
Students and teachers are not back from holiday until tomorrow. More info as officials validate the facts.