It was an active police scene for most of the morning around Madison Southern High School and Foley Middle School in Berea today. The result of what has now been confirmed as a “swatting incident”. Swatting is when someone makes an outrageous threat or report to create the greatest alarm and to dispatch the greatest number of armed officers possible to a specific location.
After closing down Rash and Glades Roads, officers patrolled both school grounds thoroughly inside and out throughout most of the morning. The “all clear” came around 12:30 this afternoon.
Madison County Schools released a statement thanking everyone for their support, encouragement, and patience this afternoon. ” We are so grateful to our local law enforcement agencies for their swift response and for ensuring that our students, staff, building, and campus were safe this morning.”
The school district also made provisions for parents wanting to pick up their children after the tense situation today.
The FBI is now involved in the case. That according to Berea Police Chief Jason Hayes, who says the agency is assisting in the investigation that started with a threatening call to Madison Southern High School this morning. That call was taken by the secretary who alerted authorities.
The caller reportedly made threats against the school and any agencies responding to the scene. The caller used both a phone number and email address that they believe to be untraceable. The same caller reportedly called a Lexington TV station and cursed them for not reporting the threat accurately.
The perpetrator(s) will be facing Federal charges if found and convicted.
Due to the sensitive nature of the investigation, detectives are not releasing any more specific information at this time.
Multiple agencies assisted in this morning’s response including Berea Fire Department, Berea Public Works, Madison County Sheriff’s Office, EKU K9, Kentucky State Police, and representatives from the FBI.
