Coralville, Iowa City police respond to bogus threats to school, family

CORALVILLE - Coralville and Iowa City police are investigating two threatening calls they believe are hoaxes.

According to a notification from the Iowa City Community School District, Coralville and Iowa City police responded to a call from a teenager who threatened to harm his family. Coralville Police Lt. Shane Kron said he and Chief Barry Bedford 'loaned” officers from surrounding areas and responded to the home.

'The chief and I came out and established it was a hoax,” Kron said.

While the notification from the school district, said police responded with their tactical teams, both Kron and Iowa City Police Sgt. Scott Gaarde said that was not the case.

'Iowa City did send additional officers to assist Coralville as needed,” Gaarde said.

The district said police received another call Tuesday morning - believed to be from the same suspect - who made a 'non-specific threat regarding a high school.” The caller also indicated he was being bullied at school.

'The police would like us to keep our eyes and ears open to any student who might be in distress or is perhaps telling his friends about making a call to the police,” the notification states. 'We believe that all of our students and schools are safe; however, given the nature of the call we felt it important to let you know of this development and our work with local law enforcement.”

Gaarde said police have not located 'any credible evidence to suggest this is anything other than a hoax.” He said police will pursue charges. Kron said police are working with officials at the county's joint communications center to try to determine the identity of the caller.

Iowa City Area CrimeStoppers is offering a reward of up to $1,000 for information leading to the arrest of the suspect. Anyone with information is asked to call CrimeStoppers at 358-TIPS.

l Comments: (319) 398-8238; lee.hermiston@thegazette.com