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Internet sleuthing helps Butte police crack school threat case

Posted at 4:34 PM, Oct 04, 2018
and last updated 2018-10-04 18:34:44-04

BUTTE – When threats of violence were sent to Butte Central Elementary early this week via email, Butte police had to use a detective who specializes in internet crime to solve the case.

“This officer was familiar with that so he was able to jump on the ship right away and get things moving right away,” said Butte Undersheriff George Skuletich.

Police used an investigator with its Internet Crimes Against Children department to find the person responsible for sending two threatening emails to the school which prompted it to go on lockdown Monday and close on Tuesday.

“We got a notice from Google that they did have some sort of IP address for us and we worked with Charter Communications here to get the physical address where this IP address was at and it went from there,” said Skuletich.

The result was an arrest of a 13-year-old Butte male who is being held at a juvenile facility in Great Falls and faces charges. Police don’t have a motive for the threats.

“This day and age you have to treat every threat as credible, you investigate then all that way, we’re not going to take a chance with the lives of our students or our children or our teachers,” said Skuletich.

Police commended the work of its investigator, the school and the school resources officers in this case and say students are safe to continue school this week.

— story by John Emeigh – MTN News