Student lights desk on fire; RMS bomb threat appears unfounded, ORPD says

Note: This story was last updated at 3:58 p.m.

A 16-year-old student at the Alternative School used hand sanitizer and a lighter to ignite another student’s desktop on Wednesday, authorities said.

Students extinguished the fire, and the suspect was arrested at the Alternative School on Thursday. He was processed at the Oak Ridge Police Department on aggravated arson charges and taken to the Richard L. Bean Juvenile Detention Facility in Knoxville, a press release said.

In a separate incident, authorities determined that a report of an alleged bomb threat at Robertsville Middle School on Monday was unfounded, and no criminal charges are expected.

The ORPD said the desk was set on fire just before dismissal at the Alternative School on Wednesday. The Alternative School is next to the Oak Ridge High School and on the same campus. Staff at the Alternative School notified School Resource Office Sherrill Selby about the incident via e-mail.

“Subsequent investigation by SRO Michael Swigert resulted in the arrest of the suspect,” the press release said. The student was arrested at about 9:30 a.m. Thursday.

“The investigation remains ongoing,” the release said. “No further details will be released at this time.”

Selby learned of the alleged bomb threat at about 7:30 a.m. Wednesday. The threat itself was alleged to have been made at roughly 11:34 a.m. Monday.

“An anonymous caller claimed that a 14-year old RMS male student made remarks indicating he was going to detonate a bomb at RMS on the last day of school,” the press release said. “SRO Selby developed further information which resulted in officers obtaining consent to search a residence in Oak Ridge, where no evidence was found indicating the existence of an explosive device.

“Subsequent intelligence developed by SRO Selby with assistance from Oak Ridge Schools’ administrative staff identified additional witnesses to the alleged threat, who were interviewed. Preliminary facts and circumstances uncovered during the investigation do not sustain the initial report, which appears to be unfounded. No criminal charges are expected to be filed at this time; however, the investigation remains ongoing and further details will be released as they become available.”

Anyone with more information regarding the alleged threat is asked to call the ORPD at (865) 425-4399.

More information will be added as it becomes available.