MOUNT CARMEL TOWNSHIP - Several new leads have developed in an investigation into who phoned in a bomb threat March 15 that forced the evacuation of some 1,500 students and staff from the elementary and junior-senior high schools in Mount Carmel Area School District.
Mount Carmel Township Police Chief Brian Hollenbush said Patrolman Brian Carnuccio, who serves as the school district resource officer, is continuing his probe of the bomb scare that was received at 10:04 a.m. March 15 by an employee at Northumberland County Communications Center in Sunbury. Police said the threat was made from a pre-paid mobile phone.
The caller made the threat quickly before hanging up, Hollenbush said, and he did not target a specific building.
"We've received some new leads and are definitely making progress in the investigation," Hollenbush said Wednesday.
"We are continuing to work with township police in an effort to uncover the perpetrator," Mount Carmel Area Superintendent Bernie Stellar said
The bomb threat led to an early dismissal of students. No one was injured and no explosives were found during a search of the school buildings and grounds. School was back in session the next day.
Elementary students and personnel gathered at on-campus outdoor basketball courts. Junior-senior high school students and personnel gathered nearby on soccer fields.
The evacuation took about four minutes, Hollenbush said.