Suspect in custody following reported threat to Perkins schools

Update 11:15 a.m.PERKINS TWP. — A Perkins High School alumnus is in custody in relation to a threat toward a school in his former district.Police in Ashland arrested Shane Andrews, a 2015 graduate, on Wednesday morning, according to Perkins police Chief Ken Klamar. Andrews is set to face a misdemeanor aggravated menacing charge in Erie County in relation to a threat that authorities believe he posted to social media several days ago.While the investigation into that threat continues, Klamar said police believe that threat involved "shooting up" a local school. He said police learned about it through a third party on Tuesday night.The reported threat prompted increased security at each of four schools in the Perkins Local School District on Wednesday morning. While police understand the threat to have singled out one school, Klamar said all were placed under increased security as a precaution.That measure was no longer necessary by late morning, following Andrews' arrest, Klamar said.The district's crisis plan "worked exactly the way it was supposed to," Klamar said. "We're very happy to say that, though we don't want to use it, it did work.""Had we felt the threat was credible this morning, we would most certainly have not allowed people on the campuses," he added.Police were continuing to look into the reported threat on Wednesday morning. Klamar said this involved identifying whether the threat was referenced in any verbal conversations or text messages.Klamar said police ultimately found the latter, referencing text messages that verified that Andrews had mentioned an intent to do harm to a school.Klamar said police intend to speak with Andrews as part of the ongoing investigation. This will include determining what his intentions were in making the reported threat and whether he would have had the means to carry it out.Andrews is being held without bond in Ashland, where he is a resident, Klamar said. He is expected to be extradited to Erie County.Perkins Local School District, through Superintendent Jodie Hausmann, issued a phone message following Andrews' arrest."The person responsible for this morning's concern is in police custody outside of Erie County and the police are continuing to investigate the validity of the threat," she said. "We enacted our crisis plan to ensure safety of all of our students and staff, but at no time were any people in harm's way."Original story: PERKINS TWP. — Schools in the Perkins Local School District are under increased security on Wednesday morning in response to a possible threat made by a former student.Perkins police Chief Ken Klamar said local police are looking into the reported threat, which he said seems to have been made over the weekend. Perkins police learned about it through a third party on Tuesday night, accounting for the increased security as a precaution on Wednesday."We're trying to track down a few things now to determine if there's any validity (to the threat)," he said. "If it is a credible threat, we want to be sure the safety and security of our schools is looked after … (and) we want the person apprehended and brought in."The initial threat is believed to have been posted to social media, he said. Police are now looking into whether text messages were exchanged regarding it or whether anyone heard it in person.He said the threat, as police understand it, singled out one of four schools in the local district. All are under increased security on Wednesday as a precaution.Klamar said the former student believed to be behind the threat does not currently live in Erie County. He estimated that this individual lives at least an hour away.The district released a statement this morning, explaining the reason for the increased security and promising updates as further details become available."We are working code with the police department to monitor this concern and ensure our students are safe and secure," Superintendent Jodi Hausmann says in the statement.More stories from Perkins PoliceMore stories from Perkins Local SchoolsA Perkins police cruiser is parked outside of Perkins High School on Wednesday, January 4, 2017.