Middle Creek student's arrest latest as schools crack down on threats

A Middle Creek High School student is the latest to be charged in a recent crackdown on threats against schools.

Craig Garner West, of 2921 Sawyers Mill Drive in Apex, brought a pellet gun to school on Feb. 22, according to the warrant for his arrest.

He was released to his parents on $1,000 bond and ordered not to return to school until he had the permission of Principal Wade Martin.

"The young man was very cooperative. In fact, he went down to the jail and turned himself in," said Cary Police Capt. Randall Rhyne.

In an email to parents Monday, Martin wrote:

There was not a threat against the school or anyone at the school. The pellet gun was in a vehicle and was not brought into the school; however, bringing a weapon on campus is a very serious offense. Please remember to be vigilant and monitor the activities and actions of your student.

Anna Felts, an attorney representing West, said the pellet gun was brought to school accidentally and West is a good kid who never intended to hurt anyone.

"[There was] no ill intent at all. I think you will see, as this case comes to fruition, that it was an oversight and that is it," Felts said. "It has been devastating for this family to realize even an unintentional act can become a criminal matter."

Although crime in North Carolina public schools is down overall, many local school districts are enforcing a zero-tolerance policy for threats in the wake of a school massacre on Valentine's Day at a South Florida high school that left 17 people dead. Even threats made on social media have earned students who make them a criminal record.

In Cumberland County, the sheriff's office said it will pursue charges against anyone who makes a violent threat involving a school, whether it's made verbally or posted to social media. The sheriff also advised parents to warn their children about the seriousness of making what can be construed as threatening statements.

Two days after the shooting in Parkland, Fla., parents at Garner Magnet High School were told that a student had been suspended for a full year for bringing a gun to school.

A Knightdale High School student who tweeted a photo of himself pointing a gun and tagged Wake County public schools was charged with disorderly conduct toward a school and possession of a handgun by a minor.

Cumberland County public schools recorded three incidents.

A Gray's Creek High School student, arriving late to class, allegedly told a teacher he planned to bring a gun to school.

A Pine Forest High School student told classmates “there will be a school shooting tomorrow” and was charged with making a false threat of mass violence on educational property.

A Douglas Byrd High School student faces the same charge after fellow students reported that he claimed, "I have an AR-15, and I'm going to shoot y'all" during a school bus ride.

Rhyne said it is not a bad thing that people have been more vigilant about concerns at schools since the mass shooting in Florida.

"Since the incident in Florida, our calls are up about suspicious activity, things people have seen on social media that has made them nervous or that they didn't like and we have looked into all of those incidents," he said. "We ask people to call us when you are uncomfortable. That is what we are here for."

Rhyne said authorities prefer to investigate and find there is no danger than to miss a clue that could prevent something serious.

"They should monitor what their children are saying and how they are posting, who their friends are and the things that are going on in their lives and that is normally where we get out best tips from," he said.

Data released last month by the N.C. Department of Public Instruction shows 13 fewer incidents of students charged with possession of a firearm in 2016-17 compared to 2015-16. That marked an 11 percent decrease. Possession of a firearm was one of the most frequently reported crimes on public school campuses for the time period studied.