Man who allegedly made threats against Islip schools arrested on unrelated charges outside New York
Islip High School on Feb. 2, 2018. Credit: Raychel Brightman
A man who allegedly made threats against Islip schools was taken into custody Thursday in another state on unrelated charges, the Islip district superintendent said.
Superintendent Dennis O’Hara told families in a letter that he was informed of the arrest by the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office. Information about the nature and location of the arrest was not available.
Earlier this week, police were notified of “threatening statements” the man allegedly made during a social media exchange with a woman against both the woman and the school district.
Police described the two people as “former high school associates.” A police spokeswoman said they “attended high school together at some point.”
O’Hara said, despite the arrest, Suffolk County police will still be present at athletic events Thursday afternoon and at school when students return Monday after spring recess. The district has a high school, a middle school and three elementary schools, serving about 2,600 students.
The district said Wednesday that it had stepped up security measures by adding personnel and providing a photo of the man to coaches and other employees.
“I would like to thank our families for their support and patience while we worked through a disturbing situation,” O’Hara wrote. “ … You can rest assured we are safe, and that I will update you if anything changes.”
The police investigation continues, a Suffolk police spokesman said.
Dandan Zou covers education for Newsday. Previously, she worked for a community newspaper in Maryland and a personal finance magazine in Washington, D.C.
