Authorities say bomb threat to Deerfield High was ‘swatting’

School officials and local police on Monday investigated a bomb threat made against Deerfield High School, deeming the threat not credible, according to a message from Dr. Chala Holland, superintendent of Township High School District 113.

Holland’s message also says that school officials discovered other districts also received recent threats “with the same exact verbiage.”

The threat was left as a voicemail on the school’s main number at 11:26 a.m. Jan. 25, and upon hearing the message, district officials reportedly contacted Deerfield police, which controlled the investigation.

The school district’s detection dogs searched the school grounds Monday morning.

It is unclear how the investigation may have disrupted the school day. District 113 did not immediately return The Record’s request for more information.

Deerfield police determined the message was a “swatting” call, or a hoax call.

Police increased their presence at the high school “out of an abundance of caution,” Holland said in her message.

“We recognize that this information is extremely unsettling,” she wrote. “If you are a parent or caregiver of a student and would like to speak with someone regarding this incident, please call the Deans’ Office at (224) 632-3004 or email jjimenez@dist113.org or eauston@dist113.org.”

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