Two student arrests, social media threats disrupt Kent high schools

It’s been a hectic couple of days in the Kent School District with an arrest of a Kentridge High School student, an arrest of a Kentwood High student and social media threats that disrupted Kentwood and nearby Mattson Middle School.

Several families pulled their students early from school Thursday, Sept. 26 at Kentwood and Mattson after the arrest at Kentwood and social media threats.

Kent Police arrested a student Thursday in a Kentridge classroom at 12430 SE 208th St. Police Chief Rafael Padilla said in a Sept. 26 email that they are “holding off” on releasing information about the arrest at this time.

“Kent Police officers arrived to take a student into custody,” Kentridge Principal Christa Ernst said in a Sept. 26 email to families, which was provided to the Kent Reporter by a district resident. “Officers and one school safety officer went into a classroom and took the student into custody. The student was cooperative and the removal proceeded without incident.”

Ernst said she couldn’t reveal any details about the student or the arrest, but she appreciated the work of the Kent Police.

“While the circumstances were not ideal, our collaboration with the Kent Police Department remains strong, and we thank them for working to keep our community safe,” Ernst said.

The principal had advice for parents.

“If your student is bothered by this incident, please encourage them to ask to see their school counselor, administrator or school social worker,” Ernst said.

Kentwood arrest

The King County Sheriff’s Office, which responds to Kentwood, 25800 164th Ave. SE, through a contract with the city of Covington, arrested a 16-year-old female student Sept. 25 for investigation of felony assault, according to a Sept. 26 email from Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Brandyn Hull.

Deputies transported the student to the King County youth detention center in Seattle.

“There was some sort of altercation between her and another student that took place off campus,” Hull said.

Deputies searched the nearby area around Kentwood but did not find a weapon, Hull said. The school was locked down for about an hour.

“This does remain an open investigation as detectives gather more information,” Hull said.

Social media threats

A number of parents pulled their students out of class early Thursday, Sept. 26 after social media threats were reported at Kentwood High and Mattson Middle School, 16400 SE 251st St., which is in Covington, just north of Kentwood.

Principals at each school sent emails to parents about the incidents.

“Before school this morning, students came forward to report concerning screenshots of text messages referencing violence and weapons,” Kentwood Principal Samantha Ketover said in an email to the Kentwood families. “Because of these students swift reporting, school administration was able to partner with Kent School Safety and law enforcement to investigate these reports.

“Currently, there does not appear to be any credible threat to any Kentwood community member or our school. In an abundance of caution, there will be increased school safety presence at Kentwood for the remainder of the day.”

Mattson Principal Janine Etier sent out a similar email and responded about parents showing up at school to get their kids before school was out.

“We understand some families have already come in to pick up students early, and we completely understand and support whatever you feel is best for your family,” Etier said. “We want to thank those who reported and who continue to come forward and report to us. The ongoing and open communication is how we can partner together to work on keeping our community safe and focus on learning.”

When asked about the social media threats, Hull, a King County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson, replied:

“We remain vigilant in responding to any credible threats against schools and students,” Hull said.

Earlier threats

The Kent School District posted Sept. 20 on its website a message about several of its schools mentioned in a social media post that day.

“We have learned this is a nationwide threat circulating in our area with both local police and the FBI investigating this situation,” according to the district. “Two Kent School District schools, Kent-Meridian High School and Springbrook Elementary School were on a list of 20-plus schools in anonymous social media posts on multiple platforms.”

The district reported that Kent Police investigated and advised the district there is not a credible threat and to conduct normal school activities. The district said schools might see an increased police presence.

“Please communicate with your children the importance of reporting anything concerning to an adult and if anyone has additional information about this threat, we encourage you to call 911,” according to the district statement. “The safety of all students is always our primary concern regardless of the credibility of a threat.”

Police presence

The Kent School District contracts with the Kent Police Department to provide two school resource officers and a commander to oversee the program as a school safety liaison. An officer is based at Kent-Meridian and Kentridge high schools, which are each in the city limits.

The officers also oversee Mill Creek Middle School, Canyon Ridge Middle School, iGrad, Meridian Middle School and Kent Laboratory Academy.

There are no school resource officers at Kentwood and Kentlake, which are outside of the Kent city limits. The Sheriff’s Office reported earlier this year it had dropped the program because of a staff shortage but hoped to restore it next school year.

The district also has its own security force, which includes Campus Safety officers at all secondary schools and Safety Patrol officers at elementary schools.