RIVERSIDE COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENTSheriff Chad Bianco |
| Press Release: | Criminal Threat |
| Station Area: | Palm Desert |
| Written Date: | October 21, 2021 | Time: | 8:00 AM |
| Incident Date: | October 20, 2021 | Time: | 7:00 AM |
| Incident Location: | 74900 Block of Aztec way, Palm Desert
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| Reporting Officer: | Lieutenant Matthew Martello
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| File Number(s): | T212930024
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Details:
On October 20, 2021, the Palm Desert High School Resource Deputy was notified of a TikTok video that a student had posted on the internet prior to the start of school. The video depicted the student damaging school property and a violent threat against a peace officer. The student was arrested before entering the school and was booked into Juvenile Hall, where he is being held pending a court hearing.
Prior to the arrest, The School Resource Deputy, Palm Desert High School Administration, and District Security worked in partnership to maintain the safety of our students and educators prior to school opening. The experience of each field continues to demonstrate the importance of working together and understanding the challenges that exist with social media and crimes that are commonly associated with it.
The School Resource Deputy and School Administration take every crime, rumor and actual or presumed threat seriously. We would like to remind parents to please discuss social media use with their school-age children. There could be lasting criminal consequences resulting from threatening and illicit posts. Contrary to common belief, many of these communications are trackable, retrievable, and verifiable.
Both organizations conducted a thorough investigation based on their responsibilities, and at no time were students in imminent danger.
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