Ottumwa juvenile arrested after making threat

OTTUMWA – An Ottumwa middle school student was arrested and charged with harassment after brandishing a firearm and threatening to shoot another student at Evans Middle School in Ottumwa.

The Ottumwa Police Department received information from the Ottumwa Schools Superintendent at approximately 6:30 p.m. Monday regarding a report of a threat at Evans Middle School. According to a press release from the Ottumwa Police Department, the juvenile who was later arrested brandished the gun and made the threat during a face-time conversation on a social media platform.

The Ottumwa Police department immediately began an investigation of the incident and was able to locate the male juvenile student and determine that it was a credible threat by 8 p.m. that day. For safety reasons, the student that made the threat was not present at school on Tuesday.

The student was arrested Tuesday and charged with first degree harassment, an aggravated misdemeanor. The student has been placed in a juvenile detention facility at this time.

'The Ottumwa Police Department takes all threats serious and works closely with School personnel,” stated a press release from the department. 'The department wants to remind students, parents and faculty to stay vigilant and remember if you become aware of a potential threat to contact staff and law enforcement immediately.”

Those with additional information regarding this incident are asked to contact the Ottumwa Police Department at 641-683-0661.