The East Greenbush Police Department has ruled out a social media threat to Columbia High School and all district schools are safe and under normal conditions. The actual threat, which came as a photo posted on Instagram, was made about a Clovis High School in New Mexico and had no connection to Columbia High School in East Greenbush. The suspect was arrested late last week.

At approximately 6:30 a.m. this morning, a photo found on Instagram with a threat toward a school with the initials CHS was emailed to an administrator at Columbia High School by a concerned parent. The administrator immediately called the school resource officer Jay Martyn, who is a police officer with East Greenbush Police Department and who works in the high school each school day.

Officer Martyn worked with detectives at EGPD and quickly learned that the social media post was about Clovis High School in New Mexico. The suspect who made the threat had already been arrested but the photo had gone viral and continues to make its way around social media.

During the investigation this morning, additional police officers came to campus to ensure safety. Large backpacks and athletic bags were searched by school staff as students entered the building.

Thank you to the EGPD for quickly discrediting this threat and to our school staff for ensuring the safety of students. We also appreciate the tip from the concerned parent and encourage anyone to come forward when they learn of a potential threat to our schools. This can be done by calling a school administrator or by using our online tip line.