17-year-old boy being held in jail, accused of threatening to blow up Union Grove High School

RACINE COUNTY -- A 17-year-old boy is being held at the Racine County Jail on felony and misdemeanor charges amid an investigation into a potential threat at Union Grove High School.

On Thursday morning, March 24th, around 8:30 a.m., the Racine County Communications Center received information regarding a potential threat at the school. A concerned citizen said students and staff may be the target of violence by a member of the student body.

Racine County Sheriff’s deputies immediately responded to the high school and determined that a 17-year-old boy had made verbal threats to blow up the high school and cause great bodily harm to students and staff.

Deputies were able to quickly identify the student and he was taken into custody without incident.

Sheriff’s investigators were able to determine that this was an isolated incident and there were no other parties involved in communicating or carrying out any threats.

Although staff and students were never directly in harm's way, Sheriff Christopher Schmaling and members of his office take these types of threats very seriously. Sheriff Schmaling immediately directed additional resources to the high school and surrounding communities as a precautionary measure to ensure public safety.

The investigation into this incident is ongoing.