Waconia high school students dismissed after pair of social media threats

A pair of social media threats resulted in early dismissal for Waconia High School Friday, officials said.

Carver County deputies were first called shortly before 8 a.m. to the Waconia Alternative Learning Center on the high school campus on a report by a parent about "an inappropriate video on social media." Authorities said the situation was handled immediately before school started and a 16-year-old male was arrested on suspicion of terroristic threats and disorderly conduct. Deputies remained around the school as a precaution, and were nearby when detectives received a report of a "second ambiguous threat also posted on social media."

According to emergency dispatch audio, squad cars were called shortly before noon to the high school "as soon as possible," as the "school is going on lockdown for a second time."

"A student here just got another Snapchat video from another student saying to leave the high school now," the dispatcher said.

Students were released from school at 11:45 a.m. as a precautionary measure, the sheriff's office said. Detectives are now following leads to determine the origin of the threat.

"At no time during this incident were students or staff in imminent danger," the sheriff's office said in a news release. The nearby middle school and elementary schools continued their days as scheduled.

STAFF REPORT