Cops: Riverhead student charged with making terroristic threat

A male juvenile was arrested Sunday night after he made what “could be construed as a threat” against fellow students at Riverhead High School, Riverhead Town police said.

Police have not identified the student and declined to detail the threat, made on a “social media site.” The site was not identified and, in a statement released Monday, police said: “No further information will be released at this time due to the age of the parties involved.”

The district, also in a statement, said that while “all is safe” as a precaution officials had asked for police presence at the high school Monday.

In an account of the incident Monday, police said they were notified at 9:12 p.m. Sunday by a high school student that “a fellow student had created a post on a social media site that could be construed as a threat against fellow students at the school.”

An investigation by detectives led to the arrest of the male juvenile, police said. That juvenile was charged with making a terroristic threat and was released to a parent, police said. Arraignment will take place at a later date.

In its statement Monday, the school district said: “Late last night, Riverhead PD received information about an online potential threat to the High School. Upon investigation, an individual was arrested. At this time there is no longer a threat to the High School and all is safe. As a precaution, we have asked for a police presence throughout the day.”

By John Valenti

john.valenti@newsday.com

John Valenti, a reporter at Newsday since 1981, has been honored nationally by the Associated Press and Society of the Silurians for investigative, enterprise and breaking news reporting, as well as column writing, and is the author of “Swee'pea,” a book about former New York playground basketball star Lloyd Daniels. Valenti is featured in the Emmy Award-winning ESPN 30-for-30 film “Big Shot.”