16-year-old girl charged in clown threats at Berks County schools

Berks County, Pa. (WTXF) - Authorities say they have identified and arrested a 16-year-old female student from the Wilson School District as the person allegedly behind the social media posts threatening violence at four Berks County School Districts.

During the investigation, detectives learned that the defendant utilized a hand held electronic device to create an Instagram social media account from her residence and proceeded to post threatening clown messages directed at school districts, according to authorities.

Berks County Detectives with the assistance of the Spring Township Police Department served a search warrant at the residence of the defendant located in West Lawn, Berks County, Pa. The defendant and her mother were present at the residence at the time of the search warrant service.

Investigators say detectives seized electronic devices from the residence pursuant to the search which were believed to be used to create and send the threatening messages. Additionally, detectives obtained a statement from the defendant whereby she admitted to posting the threatening clown messages from October 4th, 2016, according to police.

Authorities say her motive for making the threatening messages was because she did not want to go to school. She thought that by posting the messages, school would be canceled, police say.

Authorities say she has been charged with erroristic Threats with the Intent to Terrorize Another,Terroristic Threats With Intent to Cause Evacuation of a Building, Place of Assembly or Facility of Public Transportation,Terroristic Threats with Intent to Cause Serious Public Inconvenience or Cause Terror, Criminal Use of a Communications Facility,Harassment, Disorderly Conduct Engage in Fighting or Threatening, or in Violent Tumultuous Behavior and False Alarms to Agencies of Public Safety.

She is currently detained in a juvenile detention facility.