Teen is arrested after note found

CEDAR CITY — A student at Canyon View High School in Cedar City was arrested on Wednesday after allegedly threatening several students at her school in a written note.

Cedar City Police Sgt. Jerry Womack said the student, a 16-year-old female, turned herself in to the school's resource office.

"She took responsibility for writing the note," Womack said. "We were very concerned about it. We took the threat very seriously."

The student was arrested and transported to Youth Services, a juvenile detention facility. Womack said no weapons were found and the girl was cooperating with police. The Iron County Attorney's Office is reviewing the evidence to determine whether any criminal charges will be filed against the juvenile.

The female allegedly confessed to writing the note that threatened the lives of six students and one administrator at the school. The note also reportedly said the school would be destroyed by March 30.

Two middle school age girls found the anonymous note in a gutter near the Cedar City Library, about four miles from the high school, on Monday. The girls immediately turned the note in to police, said Womack. The note was folded and appeared to be torn out of a typical notebook used by students.

Police alerted the Iron County School District superintendent and administrators at the high school. Those people specifically mentioned in the note also were notified, he added.

"We're still doing follow-up interviews, and we've taken safety precautions at the school," Womack said. "Due to the nature of the incident, we will not release what those precautions are. Please understand that these precautions may need to be used in the future, and we don't wish to jeopardize the safety of staff and students by releasing details."

Investigators originally took the note to teachers at the school to see if any of them could recognize the handwriting.

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