Hollister
– A local man was arrested this week after he allegedly made
threats of a Columbine-like incident at Spring Grove School.
Hollister – A local man was arrested this week after he allegedly made threats of a Columbine-like incident at Spring Grove School.
San Benito County Sheriff’s Office arrested Keith Borchers, 37, after a school staff member overheard him making threats while on school premises. Borchers remains in the San Benito County Jail on $5,000 bail on a felony charge of making threats with intent to terrorize, according to jail personnel.
The incident occurred at 3:20pm Wednesday, after school had been let out for the day.
Borchers was on campus with a friend whose son attends the school. The two were meeting with an administrator about the student’s discipline problems.
While leaving the school, Borchers was overheard by a staff member saying the school would have “another … Columbine on their hands,” Iler said, quoting the sheriff’s report.
The staff member called the sheriff’s department and Borchers was arrested at his home a short time later.
Sheriff Curtis Hill said he was impressed with the school’s handling of the incident.
“We’re at a point in time with the concern we have for our families and our children, people have to understand that if they open their mouth, that they’re going to be taken seriously,” Hill said.
While it is not believed that Borchers intended to act on his comment, Iler said, any threat of violence on a school campus must be regarded as sincere.
“We don’t believe he posed a serious threat but we treat all of the situations seriously,” Iler said.
Less than a month after the massacre at Virginia Tech and around the eight-year anniversary of the Columbine shooting, schools are taking all threats seriously.
A note was sent home to Spring Grove parents on Thursday explaining in both English and Spanish that the incident had occurred. Parents were told to contact the school if they had any questions or concerns. They were sent a second note on Friday letting them know that school safety had been discussed with the students.
“You don’t want to alarm people, but we thought it was really important that people understand so we didn’t have any rumors out there,” said Spring Grove Principal and Superintendent Evelyn Muro. Muro said she was happy to see that attendance was normal on Friday.
Karen Haugland, a parent at Spring Grove, said she was glad to be informed of the situation, but she was nevertheless more nervous about school safety.
“I feel like they did take the right step by telling us. On the other hand, by telling us it did create a concern – but I would rather know than not know,” she said.
Hill said the event should serve as a reminder that any threats to school safety will be taken seriously.
“That kind of behavior is not acceptable,” Hill said.
