Thursday’s concern in the Pennsbury School District over alleged comments that were taken as a threat against three buildings began with an incident in Middletown Township.
Middletown Township police told LevittownNow.com they were made aware of an incident that started at 10:35 a.m. at the Michaels store along East Lincoln Highway at Lincoln Plaza.
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“A cashier at Michaels Crafts reported the that while working the front cash register a male about 20 years old was acting suspicious. Eventually the subject approached her and asked her for her name. He then started small talk with her. During this small talk the male related that he wanted to end his life and people at Temple University where he lives. He further added that he went to Pennsbury High School and that people at Pennsbury High School, Charles Boehm, and Village Park Elementary schools ‘have stuff to hurt him and that he has stuff to hurt them,’” police said in a statement.
The clerk told police the man showed her what she believed was a Pennsbury School District student ID with a name on it. She committed the name to memory.
“Prior to leaving, he told the cashier that this was not the last time she would hear his name,” police said.
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Middletown Township police arrived at the store and interviewed the clerk. They searched the surrounding area, including the Oxford Valley Mall, for the man, but they were unable to locate him.
Officer Michael Marks pulled surveillance video of the man and furthered the investigation, police said.
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Detective Lt. Steve Forman was able to uncover that the man was a Falls Township resident who lived at Temple University while he was attending there, police said.
“Officer Marks had serious concerns relating to this incident and did his due diligence and sought the resources from [detectives],” police said.
Falls Township, Lower Makefield, and Temple University police were made aware of the situation. In addition, the Pennsbury School District was alerted of the concerning comments, police said.
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Working with Temple University police detectives, officers at the Philadelphia university were able to locate the man at his on-campus apartment by mid-afternoon, police said.
The man, who is not being charged, was detained and triaged for a mental health evaluation, police said.
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Due to the comments, Falls Township and Lower Makefield Township police increased their patrols at Pennsbury High School in Falls Township, Charles Boehm Middle School in Lower Makefield Township, and Village Park Elementary School in Falls Township.
Pennsbury School District Superintendent Dr. Thomas Smith thanked police in a Thursday evening update sent to parents.
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“MTPD acted without delay appropriately on the information received, shared the information with other law enforcement agencies of the potential targets mentioned, identified the subject, obtained video of him all resulting in locating the subject before anything happened in a relatively short time. Temple University PD likewise acted without delay taking the intelligence information seriously, locating, detaining him and assisted him in getting the crisis services that he needed,” Forman said.
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