June 4, 2009

By Tim Simard

Observer staff

Hinesburg Police have identified a 17-year-old Champlain Valley Union High School student in conjunction with Wednesday’s bomb threat. Deputy Police Chief Fred Silber said a joint investigation by police and school officials led them to the suspect.

Silber said the student will be charged with one misdemeanor count of making false alarms and reports.

On Wednesday morning, school officials decided to evacuate CVU after a student found a note in the boys bathroom saying the building would “blow up” at 11:30 a.m., according to a letter from CVU Principal Sean McMannon. The principal posted the letter on the school’s Web site, www.cvuhs.org, Wednesday afternoon.

Silber said the student who brought the letter to school officials was the one who will be charged with the misdemeanor.

CVU’s bomb scare occurred mere hours after a suspicious device was found at the Essex Community Education Center, prompting the evacuation of Essex High School and Center for Technology-Essex.

Silber said the seriousness of two bomb threats in two different towns caused police to push for serious charges against the student. He said Essex’s incident “ratcheted up the concern for everyone.”

Students at CVU will have to make up Wednesday’s missed school day on Monday, June 15. The high school’s exam schedule has changed, with next week’s final exam block scheduled for Friday, June 12. Seniors are still scheduled to graduate that Friday afternoon.