Dec. 5 – Three Kalispell schools saw an increased law enforcement presence Thursday morning after anonymous overseas threats came through a crisis line.
Kalispell police and other local law enforcement agencies responded to threats received against Flathead High School, Glacier High School and Elrod Elementary School, according to a message from Kalispell Police Chief Jordan Venezio sent at 10:20 a.m. on Dec. 5.
According to city officials, the schools were released from lockdown at 11:15 a.m. after investigators deemed the threats not credible.
Similar threats were made against schools across Montana, including in the Bozeman, Billings, Missoula and Great Falls school districts.
Although the Whitefish School District did not receive any of the threats, Superintendent Dave Means said administrators were monitoring the situation. He described the false threats as what is known as swatting, an intimidation tactic in which false reports of shootings, bomb threats or mental health emergencies are made to emergency responders.
Reporter Jack Underhill can be reached at 758-4407 or junderhill@dailyinterlake.com.
