Police Identify Who Wrote Threatening Note at Wheaton North

Police have identified a juvenile who was allegedly responsible for the threatening note written on a bathroom wall at Wheaton North High School the week before Christmas break, officials said.

Wheaton Deputy Police Chief Tom Meloni said Thursday the department has cleared the case by identifying the individual, but he could not release details about the juvenile. He said charges for the juvenile have not yet been approved by the States Attorney's Office.

Wheaton North High School was placed under heightened security Friday, Dec. 16 after a threatening note was found written on a student bathroom wall for the second time that week, said Erica Loiacono, School District 200 spokeswoman.

Police on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday of that week conducted interior and exterior searches at the school and found no “suspicious devices.” District 200 had a canine unit inspect the school Thursday evening, said Loiacono. They also found nothing, Meloni said. He added there were extra officers at the school all day Thursday and Friday, especially at times of students' arrival and dismissal.

“When there is a bomb threat in any location we take them seriously” Meloni said. He added that threats like this are not uncommon, that if schools were evacuated every time a bomb threat was called in, schools would have a hard time conducting the day, he said.

The juvenile petition will be filed in juvenile court when charges are approved by the States Attorney's Office, Meloni said.