A Geneva woman has been arrested following a phone call that prompted a brief safety lockout at the Bath Central School District on Friday.
According to authorities, Steuben County 9-1-1 received a call from a phone number traced to Ontario County in which a woman made direct threats toward the Bath-Haverling School District. As a precaution, the district was temporarily placed in a lockout, which officials stress is different from a lockdown. The lockout was later lifted.
After investigating, officers identified the suspect as 36-year-old Carrie McChesney. She was taken into custody by the Ontario County Sheriff’s Office and turned over to the Bath Police Department. McChesney was charged with making a terroristic threat, a felony.
School officials said there was never believed to be a credible threat to the district. The lockout was implemented to give administrators and law enforcement time to assess the situation following the concerning phone call. Authorities later confirmed that no threat to the school existed.
District leaders said the incident highlights the importance of established safety procedures and regular drills, and they thanked local law enforcement agencies for their swift response.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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