Police increase presence near Alpena schools, report on threat investigation
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ALPENA -- Local police on Friday upped their presence around Alpena schools, investigated a suspicious person near school property, and reported on their investigation into recent alleged threats as schools continue caution in the wake of a downstate school shooting.
"We're cautious in normal times, and extra cautious in these kinds of times," said Alpena Public Schools Superintendent David Rabbideau late Friday afternoon.
The increased precautions follow a school shooting in Oxford on Nov. 30 that left four teenagers dead and seven injured.
Subsequent threats of violence by students have led schools across the state to cancel days of classes, move to remote learning, and increase safety measures.
On Thursday night, Alpena Public Schools posted a social media message alerting parents to rumors circulating about posts on the social media platform TikTok.
The posts allegedly threatened coordinated school violence nationwide on Friday.
Some schools around the country closed because of the posts, but police in many cities called the alleged threat a hoax, and many schools stayed open on Friday, with extra security measures in place, according to multiple national media outlets.
Alpena Public Schools officials consulted with the Alpena Police Department and the Michigan State Police, who found no credible threat against Alpena schools tied to the TikTok posts, according to the district's online statement.
Local law enforcement agencies promised an increased presence in the school district on Friday, school officials said.
Officers responded quickly, Rabbideau said, when staff at Sanborn Elementary School requested a police presence because someone reported a man they deemed suspicious on or near school property around 1 p.m. Friday.
Staff ushered some students who were outside into the building and resumed their regular school day while an Alpena County Sheriff's Office deputy and a Michigan State Police trooper searched the area.
The officers found nothing of concern. The man never approached the school building, staff, or students, Rabbideau said.
On Friday morning, the Michigan State Police-Alpena Post completed a report of its investigation of two students who allegedly made gun-related threats against Alpena schools last week.
Those alleged threats -- one attributed to a Thunder Bay Junior High School student and one to an Alpena High School student -- led to school officials closing those schools last Thursday and Friday while police investigated the comments other students said they overheard.
The police investigation continued this week until, on Friday, police submitted paperwork to Alpena County Prosecutor Cynthia Muszynski.
Muszynski will review the police report and speak to people involved with the alleged incidents before deciding whether to issue charges against the students, she said on Friday afternoon.
She anticipates making that decision next week.
On Wednesday, many students stayed home from Rogers City Middle/High School after students reported that a student had threatened violence during a fight the previous day.
A police investigation of that event led police and school officials to determine the student had not threatened gun violence and the school could safely continue classes.