Eight schools in Box Elder County reopened Tuesday, a day after threats prompted the campuses to shut down.
Two Bear River High School students were taken into police custody Monday in connection with the threats, officials said.
“It has been determined that the threats that were made were attempts at being funny, which were not funny,” the Tremonton Garland Police Department posted on Facebook. “Two juveniles are being charged criminally for these threats that caused alarm and concern throughout the community.”
Bear River High, two middle schools and five elementary schools shifted to online learning early Monday after the threats began Friday. The first threat was a crude drawing of a gun and Monday’s date, Dec. 13, was found in a bathroom stall at the high school.
In a letter to parents, Superintendent Steven E. Carlson wrote that police “received information about a possible bomb and gun threat” at 3 a.m. on Monday. About an hour-and-a-half later, the district decided to close the schools.
The schools were “searched with bomb-sniffing dogs and there was no indication of the presence of explosives,” police said.
In the letter to parents, Carlson wrote, “We feel confident in resuming school [on Tuesday] in person,” noting that there would be an added police presence.
The move to virtual classes Monday in Box Elder County came hours before West High School in Salt Lake City was placed on lockdown following a reported threat involving a firearm. Three students were detained in connection with the threat. After a search of West High, Salt Lake City police considered the campus and students safe.