A 15-year-old Martin County High School sophomore arrested Tuesday after submitting a false bomb threat through the Fortify Florida app has been identified as Noah Taylor and charged with making a false report concerning the planting of a bomb, a second-degree felony. Taylor confessed to investigators that he just wanted to get out of third-period class, according to the Martin County Sheriff's Office. The arrest marks the fourth threat against the school in just over a week and a half.
Sheriff John Budensiek said the school resource deputy received the threat around 9:29 a.m. Tuesday while present at the school. The message read, "I was walking by the boys bathroom and they were saying there was bombs in the school and that they were going to blow up in third period today." Investigators reviewed security camera footage and conducted witness interviews that traced the electronic submission back to Taylor on campus.
Another student told deputies that Taylor had said the tip would be submitted anonymously and would not be traced back to him. When questioned, Taylor initially blamed other students but could not provide identifying information about them and eventually admitted making the report. Deputies confiscated Taylor's laptop as evidence before transporting him to the Department of Juvenile Justice Juvenile Assessment Center in Fort Pierce.
Budensiek confirmed the arrest is not connected to three other recent threats against Martin County High School. The first threat came through Russia, he said, and investigators are still investigating the last two cases. Principal Lori Vogel emphasized the impact of false threats in a statement.
"False threats are neither harmless nor funny. False threats can cause fear, disrupt learning and place a burden on students, families, school employees and law enforcement," Vogel said.
Budensiek warned students that what may seem like a joke can carry long-term consequences, including possible expulsion and difficulty finding employment. The sheriff's office said anonymous threats made through text messages, online platforms and other electronic communications can still be traced and investigated.