St. Petersburg Times Online: Hernando

Weather | Sports | Forums | Comics | Classifieds | Calendar | Movies

Deputies: Middle schooler admits bomb hoax

By Times staff writer

© St. Petersburg Times, published September 28, 2002


SPRING HILL -- The Hernando County Sherriff's Office has arrested a Powell Middle School student and charged him with reporting a bomb threat at that school and another in Pinellas County.

SPRING HILL -- The Hernando County Sherriff's Office has arrested a Powell Middle School student and charged him with reporting a bomb threat at that school and another in Pinellas County.

The 13-year-old boy used a cell phone to call the Sheriff's Office Tuesday and perpetrate the hoax, according to law enforcement officials. His calls led to both Powell in Spring Hill and Osceola Middle School in Seminole being evacuated and searched for explosives. None were found.

With the help of the phone company and information from other Powell students, sheriff's investigators were able to track the boy down. He quickly confessed and told police it was a prank and that he did not mean to hurt anyone.

© Copyright, St. Petersburg Times. All rights reserved.