Somerton PD: Father reports threatening messages on son’s phone

A call from a Somerton resident claiming his son was sending threatening messages alerted Somerton Police Department to investigate a possible bomb threat at Kofa High School, on Tuesday.

SPD said they received a call at approximately 11:45 p.m. from a father who said his son was sending threatening messages to another student in Yuma with plans to “blow up” Kofa High School.

“I know it’s difficult sometimes for family members to turn in their loved ones to bring these things to light, I applaud the dad,” said Chief Joseph Turitto with Somerton Police Department.

The threats were specific, identifying the time, location, and target.

“The students said it was a joke, but we don’t jokes. if you’re going to make threats we’re going to investigate the problem and if we find out who it is we will arrest them,” said Chief Turitto.

Due to the specifics of the threat, SPD detectives were called and the boy was interviewed and later arrested.

A search of the Somerton students home and the Yuma students home was conducted but nothing was found.

“The threats and attacks going on around the United States, we don’t know who’s joking or who is not joking anymore,” said Turitto.​

Both juveniles are in custody at the Yuma County Juvenile Center on Threats and Disrupting an Educational Institution.

SPD said the students were identified by KHS staff and a Yuma Police School Resource Officer.

This is the fifth threat against a school reported in Yuma County. Authorities say no other students are involved.