No charges will be filed against boy in HHS threat case

By Meg Heaton

St. Croix County District Attorney Eric Johnson said Monday that no charges will be filed against the 17-year-old boy who allegedly made threats to shoot principals at Hudson High School on Nov. 5.

According to Johnson, his office has no basis to file charges in the case. The Hudson Police Department received a report of the alleged threats against principals at HHS from the boy's social worker who said the boy's mother had phoned her and told her of the threats. In the investigation following the incident, the mother denied telling the social worker that her son had made the threats. The son also denied that he had threatened school personnel.

The police did find a gun in a bag in the boy's home, but Johnson said there was nothing illegal about that. According to the family, the gun was used for hunting. Johnson also said the gun was found in a bag that the boy did not take to school.

Hudson High School went into a "lock-down" for more than 30 minutes after police notified the school of the social worker's call until the boy was located. He was taken into custody and underwent a psychological evaluation.

Superintendent Ron Bernth said that the district has taken what they believe to be "appropriate action" regarding the student involved in the incident but he could not provide details.