Pittsfield Police Chief Michael Starman releases the following information about an arrest:

The Pittsfield Police Department has been investigating two separate incidents last week involving threatening writings on the bathroom wall at Pikeland Community School. The Pittsfield Police Department immediately started an investigation into the threats. Officers conducted a thorough investigation and were able to develop a person of interest, who is a student at Pikeland Community School. Officers spent countless hours investigating these threats.

As a result of the investigation, Pittsfield Police Officers applied for and received an arrest warrant for the suspect on October 3, 2024. Pike County Prosecuting Attorney Walker Filbert has charged a juvenile with Disorderly Conduct. I believe this is an appropriate charge for this case. Disorderly conduct under the Illinois Complied Statute 720 ILCS5/26-1(a) (3.5) reads:

(a) A person commits disorderly conduct when he or she knowingly:
(1) Does any act in such unreasonable manner as to alarm or disturb another and to provoke a breach of the peace. (3.5) Transmits or causes to be transmitted in any mannera threat of destruction of a school building or school property, or a threat of violence, death, or bodily harm directed against persons at a school, school function, or school event, whether or not school is in session;

The juvenile suspect was arrested and had a court appearance Thursday morning.

No other information, including the juvenile’s identity can be released, at this time, or anytime in the future, as specific juvenile arrest information is not releasable under Illinois Juvenile Law.

The Pittsfield Police Department will continue to take all threats at the school seriously and will take whatever action necessary to make sure we are providing a safe learning environment for our Pikeland students.