Pontiac — The prospect of school shootings across Michigan has sparked fear among administrators and families, resulting in several arrests as well as dozens of closures on Thursday and more than 20 scheduled Friday.
A deluge of copycat threats following Tuesday's shooting rampage at Oxford High School prompted warnings from Oakland County law enforcement officials and the superintendent of the state's school system that false claims will be rooted out and prosecuted.
Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard said at least 60 schools across the state as far away as Bay City had closed Thursday amid shooting threats.
Authorities had anticipated a flood of false threats, he said, but the numbers are so "completely off the charts" that they are straining resources and his staff has made a spreadsheet to track them.
"I don't know what's in people's minds to make them think that after a real tragedy it makes sense to make false threats," said Bouchard, noting the FBI and the Secret Service are joining in to help assess claims. "It is ridiculous that you're inflaming the fears and passion of parents and teachers and the community in the midst of a real tragedy."
The sheriff was joined Thursday by Oakland County Executive David Coulter, county Prosecutor Karen McDonald, FBI officials, area police chiefs and school superintendents to discuss the "tidal wave" of threats in the wake of the Oxford High School shooting that killed four students and injured seven other people.
While...
HELENA, Mont. — Three Montana health care providers have been arrested for claiming health services that were never provided. The Department of Justice's Medicaid Fraud Control Unit revealed over ...