Ansonia police charged a 19-year-old city resident Friday with making a threat on a smartphone app that resulted in public schools being closed for a day last week.
GianCarlos Diaz was charged with first-degree threatening, second-degree threatening, and second-degree breach of peace.
Diaz was released on a $5,000 nonsurety bond and is scheduled to appear at Superior Court in Derby June 17.
Police were notified of the threat, made on the “After School” app, last Monday.
There was a heavy police presence as schools dismissed that afternoon, and public schools were closed the next day. Cops remained present throughout the schools for the rest of the week.
Police have said the threat may have been prompted by bullying.
In a prepared statement, Lt. Andrew Cota said Detective Sgt. Patrick Lynch, Detective Gerald Tenney, and Officer Michael Barry interviewed students and faculty members at the high school, which “led the officers to focus on an individual at Ansonia High School.”
Police submitted an arrest warrant which a judge signed Friday, after which Diaz was taken into custody, processed, and released.
“This arrest was the culmination of many hours of investigative work,” Cota said. “The officers involved on the day of the threat were able to secure all of the schools in Ansonia and make sure that all students were dismissed safely.”
