A 15-year-old Michigan City boy was arrested March 6, 2015, for reportedly making threats on Facebook.
Michigan City Police said the teen, whose name was not released, posted on his Facebook page threats to bring a weapon to school, take it to Nelson Park, and use it as leverage in a fight.
Student Resource Officer Dion Campbell and Officers King and Petrie went to the boy’s home and, with parental cooperation, he admitted to posting the threats. Police found no weapons in the house. The boy was arrested for Level Six Felony Intimidation.
In cooperation with Michigan City Area Schools and Principal McCollum, the boy’s locker was also searched but nothing was found.
Michigan City Police remind students and parents that making threats on social media or in any other setting can have very serious consequences. “It is not considered ‘free speech’ to threaten physical harm to someone,” police stated in a press release.
Police also issued the following information on Indiana laws regarding Intimidation, Harassment and Stalking.
— Intimidation (IC 35-45-2-1): A person commits the act of intimidation, a Class A misdemeanor, when that person communicates a threat to another person, with the intent that the other person engage in conduct against the other person’s will; or that the other person be placed in fear for a prior lawful act. The offense is a D felony if the threat is to commit a forcible felony; the victim of the threat is an employee of a school corporation; or the threat is communicated using property, including electronic equipment or systems, of a school corporation or other governmental entity. As of July 1, 2013, “Communication” has been defined to include the posting of a message electronically, including on a social networking website.
— Harassment (IC 35-45-2-2): A person commits the act of harassment, a Class B misdemeanor, when that person, with the intent to harass, annoy or alarm another person but with no intent of legitimate communication; makes a phone call (doesn’t matter if the person did not answer); communicates with a person by telegraph, mail or other written communication; or uses a computer network or other form of electronic communication to communicate with a person; or transmit an obscene message or indecent or profane words to a person. “Obscene” is defined as being sexually inappropriate or anything lacking serious artistic, literary, political or scientific value.
— Stalking (IC 35-45-10-5): A person commits the act of stalking, a Class D felony, when that person stalks another person. “Stalk” means a knowing or an intentional course of conduct involving repeated or continuing harassment of another person that would cause a reasonable person to feel terrorized, frightened, intimidated, or threatened and that actually causes the victim to feel terrorized, frightened, intimidated, or threatened.