Full Notification

DATE/TIME: Thursday, March 15, 2018

INCIDENT: School Threat Investigations

LOCATION: Colton Joint Unified School District / Bloomington High School

INVOLVED PARTIES: Confidential - Juvenile students

SUMMARY: Beginning on January 22, 2018, Deputy Chris Stowell, the School Resource Officer (SRO) assigned to the Colton Joint Unified School District and Bloomington High School, was contacted by school administration officials to assist in the investigation of a potential “threat” to the safety of the school. Several students had provided statements detailing various information which suggested a fellow student was intending to use a “homemade shotgun” and a “homemade flame thrower” to carry out an act of violence at Bloomington High School. Deputy Stowell, along with additional personnel, contacted the accused student and the parents at their residence. A thorough search of the residence was conducted and no evidence was discovered to support the allegations. Additionally, there was no conclusive information the student ever had intentions of carrying out a threat against the school.

On February 16, 2018, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) contacted the Fontana Sheriff’s Station with declassified correspondence they received via email. The information from this email, which was authored by a student who attended Bloomington High School, detailed similar circumstances and information as the January 22 investigation. It even named the same student who was previously accused of threatening violence. Deputy Stowell conducted a follow-up investigation and contacted the student who authored the email to the FBI. Several other sources of information were uncovered during the follow-up contacted to evaluate if there was new information and/or investigative leads which may indicate there was credible threat. Deputy Stowell contacted the accused student and family again. A second search of their residence was conducted but again turned up no evidence or information to support the allegations. During both the initial and follow-up investigation, the accused student and their family were cooperative with law enforcement.

On March 8, 2018, a second investigation was launched by Deputy Stowell which involved a new threat at Bloomington High School. School administration received information from a student, which claimed another student, made a verbal threat to carry out an act of violence against the school. Deputy Stowell accompanied school safety personnel in approaching and detaining this student in class. A search of the student was conducted and there was no evidence found to corroborate the threat. Deputy Stowell followed-up by contacting the parents of the student and they cooperated with a search of their residence. No evidence was found at the student’s residence to support the student had the capability to carry out the reported threat, nor was any information located to indicate the student was seeking ways to do so.

On March 15, 2018 the FBI contacted the Fontana Sheriff’s Department and informed Sergeant Corey Emon they received a phone call from a concerned parent of a Bloomington High School student. Deputy Stowell was again brought in to investigate the new threat information. Deputy Stowell spoke with the FBI and the students involved. At the conclusion, Deputy Stowell discovered some students were spreading rumors relating to the March 8th investigation. These students were all contacted and interviewed. The information they possessed on the accused student previously threatening to carry out any act of violence at Bloomington High School was not credible.

To date, deputies have not received any credible evidence, or information, which would lead the Sheriff’s Department and school administration to believe there is an imminent threat to the school, the students or school personnel.

In all cases concerning school safety, the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department will utilize all necessary resources, will cooperate with all allied agencies, both state and federal, and will conduct exhaustive investigations on any school threats. The primary mission will always be the safety of the students who attend schools in San Bernardino County. Creating a safe environment, conducive to their learning, is of everyone’s utmost importance.

Refer: Deputy Chris Stowell or Sergeant Corey Emon

Station: Fontana Station

Phone No. (909) 356-6767

Case No. 031800438 and 031800637

JOHN McMAHON, Sheriff-Coroner
San Bernardino County Sheriff-Coroner Department