School district orders lockdown after threats regarding bullying video
Aug 30, 2012, 10:13 AM | Updated: 11:31 am
The Peninsula School District put its district office and two schools in modified lockdown on Thursday after receiving threats tied to a bullying incident caught on video.
The case gained media attention after The News Tribune posted a video captured on a cell phone showing a Gig Harbor eighth grader being held under a chair and taunted by his classmates as his teacher looked on, and even participated.
KING 5 also released additional video of the events on Wednesday:
The teacher was immediately put on leave and then suspended for 10 days without pay.
In a statement, the School District said they put the schools and offices in lockdown as a precaution after receiving the threat referencing the case.
“We received a very general threat via the district website tied to the incident reported in the media,” said the statement. “As a precaution, we contacted the Pierce County Sheriff’s office who are investigating.”
The lockdown was canceled around 11 a.m.
The district says they will continue working with the Sheriff’s office to assess the situation.
The Pierce County Sheriff’s Office is examining videos and documents in the case to see if there is any evidence of a crime.
They boy’s mother tells KING 5 she doesn’t think the teacher should ever be allowed back in classroom.
“I just don’t think that he realizes what he’s done,” Karla Kinney said.
Acting superintendent Chuck Cuzzetto doesn’t think the incident rose to the level of a fireable offense.
