ALLENDALE, Mich. (WZZM) -- WZZM 13 is taking a closer look at a dramatic rise in the number of threats made against West Michigan schools.
The latest was called in to Ottawa County dispatch on Monday, warning of a bomb at Allendale High School. Staff searched the building and found nothing. However, police believe the same person responsible for that threat called in a false report of a shooting at a home in Allendale early on Tuesday morning. WZZM 13 is learning that the threats may be coming from overseas.
Investigators say a person believed to be from the United Kingdom was behind the bogus bomb threat at Allendale High School and also the fake report of a shooting at an Allendale home.
They say the caller has made connections in the U.S. and possibly in other countries through online gaming. One of those connections led to a so-called swatting incident last year at Coopersville High School. A local 14-year-old was later arrested and pleaded guilty to being an accessory in the case.
The month following the Coopersville incident, the Hudsonville school district was targeted. Again, investigators believe it was the same person overseas.
Investigators believe he's also targeted Michigan colleges such as Western Michigan University and Michigan State University, as well as schools across the country in Ohio, Arizona, and along the East Coast.
Now, state and local police are working with the FBI, which is following leads around the world to find the suspect. At this point it's unclear if it's one person or more.
The Ottawa County Sheriff's Department says there have been about a dozen reported swatting incidents in the past year, but some are not related to the suspect in the United Kingdom.
WZZM 13 also spoke to the Kent County Sheriff's Department, which believes the same suspect may be responsible for the fake threats at the Rockford School District. A meeting with Rockford Police and State Police to talk about that possible connection is planned for Thursday morning.
