Tuesday night, March 21, 2017, Arlington Heights police were notified by South Middle School administration after a couple of families notified school administrators about a suspicious video posted on YouTube that referenced South Middle School. The one minute-long video used a green screen available at the Arlington Heights Memorial Library, and included a short clip of student news announcements at South Middle School, and audio of gunshots. The video also included clips of various movies and anime.
Police and school administrators worked overnight Tuesday/Wednesday and identified the producer of the video as an autistic juvenile, who is home-schooled and not a student of South Middle School. The juvenile was interviewed by police Wednesday morning, March 22, 2017, and was charged with disorderly conduct. Police determined there was no threat to South Middle School, but assigned extra patrol cars in the area of South Middle School beginning Wednesday morning as a precaution.
Parents were notified by email by South Middle School administrators about the incident early Wednesday morning, and were informed that police confirmed that South Middle School is safe to open and conduct school as usual. Parents were told that the Arlington Heights Police Department may have a presence at South, especially during arrival and dismissal times.
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South Middle School, 400 S. Highland Avenue Arlington Heights (File Photo).