A 13-year-old boy was arrested and charged with making a threat of terrorism and first-degree harassment in relation to the threat and lockdown at Fort Dodge Middle School this afternoon. According to a press release from the Fort Dodge Police Department, there was a potential threat involving the use of a firearm by a student at the campus, however after the initial investigation, law enforcement said there is no reason to believe that students and staff were ever in any danger.
“The swift action by students and staff, along with a collaborative effort by the Fort Dodge Community School District, Fort Dodge Police Department, Webster County Sheriff’s Office, and Webster County Attorney’s Office led to this swift resolution,” Capt. Dennis Quinn said in the press release. “We would like to thank the parents and students impacted by this unfortunate incident for their patience and understanding while local law enforcement conducted the investigation.”