A student from Hastings High School is facing three charges related to a false bomb threat. The 17-year-old student's name is being withheld until he is arraigned.
On Feb. 28, the student allegedly made a threat in writing on a bathroom wall at the high school. The threat indicated a specific date, which is why the school decided to close on March 5.
He is facing three charges including a false report or threat of terrorism and two charges of a false threat of a bomb/harmful device.
The first charge carries a maximum of 20 years in prison.
The Hastings City Police investigated the case over the past several weeks by interviewing witnesses and submitting handwriting samples to the Michigan State Police Crime lab.
In a release from Hasting Police, it was stated, "This type of behavior is dangerous, disruptive and unacceptable."
Police said their intention is to request, following a conviction, that the student reimburse Hasting Area Schools for the day that they were closed as well as other expenses related to the case.
In February, the Kent County Prosecutor said that there was an increase in the number of threats directed at schools. At the time, the Prosecutors Office said in a release: "It appears that the public is not aware that making these types of threats is a crime, a serious crime, and in light of what has occurred in Florida, law enforcement is taking every incident extremely seriously."
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