Sheriff's department responds to bomb threat at Northwood

The Washburn County Sheriff’s Department responded to a bomb threat at the Northwood School in Minong around 10:15 a.m. today.

According to a news release issued by Sheriff Terry Dryden, the bomb was potentially in a vehicle in the parking lot.

Sheriff’s deputies, Minong police, fire and ambulance and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources responded to the scene. The fire service blocked both entrances to the school, allowing no one in or out of the facility.

The investigation that followed revealed a written bomb threat on the boy’s bathroom stall, stating there was a bomb in a white Grand Prix in the parking lot and the intent was to blow up the school.

Washburn County investigators and Northwood school staff isolated the vehicle in question and the Northwood school staff placed all the children in the auditorium, out of harm’s way.

“Our investigation reveals that the suspect in this case was upset at another student, who was the driver of this vehicle and he wanted to get even over apparent rumors and accusations made of the suspect,” Dryden said. The search of the vehicle revealed no explosive device, he said.

A male student was taken into custody and taken to the Washburn County Sheriff’s Office. Charges are pending.

Dryden said with the help of all of Washburn County’s available units, and the “valuable assistance” of the Minong Police Department, Minong Area Fire & Ambulance Services and the Wisconsin DNR, this matter was resolved in about two hours from the time of the initial call.

“I compliment the Northwood School District staff for their quick action in ensuring that the children were placed in an area of safety and they gathered all pertinent information for our Investigators. The Northwood School’s internal camera and recording system quickly revealed who the suspect would be in this case and as it turns out, it was indeed the individual that wrote the threat on the bathroom stall,” Dryden said. “The staff of the Northwood School District was very cooperative with law enforcement and provided everything that we needed to come to a successful conclusion.”

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