Suspect in I.V. threat arrested
James Guthrie (Photo from his MySpace page)
From our weekly issue dated November 21, 2007
A 16-year-old Illinois Valley High School student charged in connection with one of several bomb threats at the school said he “did it as a joke.”
Josephine County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO) added that the suspect is city of Cave Junction resident James L. Guthrie. He was charged with first-degree disorderly conduct related to a written bomb threat found at IVHS at around 1:11 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 15.
The note was found written on an envelope at a table where school officials had been checking backpacks and noting cell phone numbers because of previous bomb threats. Guthrie is charged only in connection with the Nov. 15 incident.
He was cooperative in providing information, JCSO added.
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The school was evacuated because of the threat. A search was conducted; no bomb was located.
There have been six bomb threats at IVHS since Oct. 11, most of them this month. One other evacuation also occurred because of a threat. But other warnings were received prior to the arrival of students, so staff members were able to search and secure the premises before students arrived.
Because of the threats, attendance has been running at approximately 65 percent. Parents have been given the option of keeping their children home because of the warnings, or allowing them to attend classes.
Additionally, each threat has caused security to be tightened at IVHS, causing extra work and stress, especially to staff. Because threats have been found written on walls in restrooms, students now are escorted to use them.
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Backpacks are checked when students arrive, and they are not allowed to enter in large groups.
Also, lockers have been sealed. They may be made available to the student body during the next several weeks.
JCSO said that its detective work will lead them to suspects in the other explosive alerts. Arrests are anticipated soon, said JCSO.
IVHS staffers say that besides reducing attendance, the threats have disrupted the normal school routine. Many students have missed classes.
“We’re fed up with these threats,” said one IVHS official, “and we hope that those responsible for the other threats also will be caught.”
There also was a bomb threat at Lorna Byrne Middle School. A note was found on Tuesday, Nov. 13. As a result, two girls each were suspended for 10 days, according to JCSO.
Bomb threats, besides disrupting student routine, involve emergency responders, plus school and Three Rivers School District staff.
