The Foley Police Department arrested two teens Friday following social media posts that were threatening in nature.
Police Chief Thurston Bullock said both 15-year-olds, a male and a female, were charged with making terroristic threats and disorderly conduct.
"Parents, please talk to your kids," Bullock said in a statement. "Not all speech (including social media posts) is protected when it crosses certain lines. There is a reason you cannot yell, 'Fire!' in a crowded theater as the old example states."
"The person may have had no intent of actually starting a fire, nor was there ever an actual fire present, but by simply creating panic through words and inciting fear, chaos and potential danger, it can cross that line," he said.
The arrests come one day after an incident at Foley High School caused mass panic and confusion. Bullock said that incident had already been resolved when the teens made two separate social media posts that were shared by many people.
"These posts caused alarm and for students, parents and faculty to fear for their safety, especially after Thursday's lockdown at the school," he said.
Foley High School is taking disciplinary action as well.
The threats came on the hills of numerous similar threats around the state last week. Bullock said authorities have a procedure in place to deal with these types of situations.
"Students should notify a teacher or parent if they don't feel comfortable calling us and put it into the hands of someone that will handle it the right way," he added. "Putting something on social media is not reporting it properly and may not only be perceived as malicious, it will most likely create the wrong kind of reactions. It could even potentially tip off the individual and push them into action faster before police have time to investigate and potentially intercept the threat before they carry out their plan to harm."
The Foley Police Department is in the process of establishing an app for submitting tips. There will be a special section for students and parents for school-related tips, which will go directly to the department and the school resource officers.
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email erica.thomas@1819news.com.
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