Chance S. Foy, an 18-year-old Northwest High School student, has been charged with a felony for allegedly making a bomb threat on Wednesday (March 21) at the school, which is in Cedar Hill, authorities reported.
Foy, who lives in High Ridge, was arrested Wednesday, and the Jefferson County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office charged him today (March 22) with making a terrorist threat in the second degree, a class E felony that’s punishable by up to four years in prison.
He was being held today at the Jefferson County Jail on a $50,000 cash-only bond.
After Foy allegedly made the bomb threat, authorities searched the school, and no explosive devices were found, said Capt. Andy Sides of the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office.
Foy was in a class filled with 28 students when he reportedly said he had a bomb in his locker that would explode in four hours, the probable-cause statement said.
At least some of the students heard the comment and told school staff about the threat, and the school followed its protocol for such situations, said Katie Cothron, Northwest community relations coordinator.
“As soon as a student comes forward, we notify the Sheriff’s (Office) and then follow their protocol,” she said. “Student safety is our top priority and the safety of our staff is a priority.”
Administrators informed the school resource officer about the threat at 11:28 a.m. Wednesday, and additional law enforcement personnel were called to the school, the Sheriffs’ Office report said.
The school was evacuated, and students were directed to go to the high school stadium, where they filled the bleachers.
Sides said evacuating the school was the right thing to do.
“Based on where we are right now, they aren’t going to take anything lightly, so they made the decision to evacuate the building,” he said.
Cothron said she was proud of the students who came forward.
“We always encourage students if they see something to say something. They did the right thing,” she said.
Cothron also said she was proud of the staff “for the relationships educators build with students that made this possible.”
At about 1:45 p.m., administrators decided to dismiss students, and buses came to the high school to take students home.
An Explosive Detection Canine Team, which included personnel and dogs from the Arnold Police Department, St. Louis County Police Department and St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, was called in to search the school for explosive devices, Sides said.
The team finished searching the building at about 3:30 p.m. Wednesday afternoon, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
When authorities questioned Foy, he allegedly admitted to saying he had a bomb and drugs in his locker. He also allegedly admitted that he knew the comment “could cause panic and the evacuation of the school, the probable-cause statement said.