Editor’s Note: This story was updated to correct that Olentangy High School and Olentangy Berlin High School were on a lockdown, while Olentangy Orange High School remained in a “secure” level.
DELAWARE COUNTY — Olentangy, Berlin and Orange high schools each received a “swatting call” on Monday morning, but all resumed classes after officials deemed the threats to be a hoax.
Amanda Beeman, assistant director of communications for Olentangy Schools, said the calls were received beginning at 8:48 a.m. on Monday.
“School administration, in partnership with the Delaware County Sheriff’s Office, placed OHS and OBHS on a lockdown, and OOHS remained in a secure level,” she said in an email.
“These three buildings were placed on these levels based on the information received in the calls.”
Delaware County Sheriff’s Office Director of Public Information Tracy Whited confirmed that all three schools received a threatening call, law enforcement swept the buildings and classes resumed once the buildings were clear.
After the Columbus Zoo evacuated and closed twice last week, Delaware Source asked Whited if Monday’s school threats related to the zoo’s threats.
“That is definitely something we are investigating,” Whited responded.
“We feel confident [Monday’s threat] was a swatting call. But the investigation involves our federal partners, so we’re still actively investigating.”
Whited also confirmed that similar to zoo’s threats, the Ohio Homeland Security Terrorism & Crime Center (STACC) is involved in the investigation.
Explaining a “swatter”
Those who send swatting calls or “swatters” are somewhat faceless and nameless criminals that may get a rise out of inducing panic, Whited said.
“A swatter will oftentimes try to find a large venue, maybe a vulnerable venue, such as a fair, the zoo, large gatherings, a school where they know they’ll get more of a rise,” she said.
She explained that swatters tend to call in and say that either they are on site in a threatening manner, have already planted a bomb or are calling about an active shooter.
“We take every threat seriously, so that pulls a lot of our resources into that one area for that time being until we can clear [the threat and say] it’s not legit, it was likely a swatting call,” Whited said.
When officials go to trace the call, Whited explained that swatters often use technology that diverts their call to different places or countries in a matter of minutes.
“The upside is in an area like Delaware County, even central Ohio, we have such great mutual aid,” Whited said.
“Some people might think, ‘Oh, that’s a vulnerable time for a law enforcement agency.’ I can see why some people might think that with a swatting call, but we’re fortunate in central Ohio to have pretty good mutual aids, we just automatically help one another out.”
