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AUSTINTOWN -- Police are investigating another threat against the township's school system.
A press release from the Austintown Police Department issued late Thursday states a school bus was isolated and the campus restricted while police investigated a bomb threat involving the bus.
"A bomb detection K9 as well as other agencies responded to assist. Multiple searches were completed, and nothing was located," the statement said.
Police said that as more information became available, it was determined no credible threat existed, but the department is continuing to work with the school district to learn more about the incident.
This is the third security scare in a month in the Austintown school district.
Two weeks ago, before the Austintown Fitch High School football regular season finale against Warren Harding, police stated they would increase their presence at the game, citing “unconfirmed" threats allegedly made on social media.
Comments on an Austintown parent’s post sharing the district’s statement suggested that racially charged comments were directed at a player on one of the teams, although it did not specify which.
That incident was less than three weeks removed from the arrest of a 17-year-old Austintown student Oct. 5 after he was found with a gun.
Another student reported to staff at the Lynn Kirk online school building that he saw the gun. Administrators notified police and after a brief struggle with the student, a loaded 9mm handgun was recovered from his waistband, and he was taken to the Mahoning County Juvenile Justice Center.
Superintendent Tim Kelty called the rash of incidents "concerning" but said he would rather not speculate on what may be driving the trend.
“I am extremely confident in our district’s ability to handle all things for our kids in the most productive ways. I am very proud of our district and our community,” Kelty said.