A Mascotte teen was arrested on a warrant Monday for posting a bomb threat during a school lockdown.
Lake Minneola High School, located at 101 N Hancock Rd., Minneola, went under lockdown regarding a possible gun on campus on April 8, according to an affidavit of probable cause out of Lake County. At the same time, the school board got a tip about a bomb threat that they passed on to law enforcement, who determined that the students were circulating an Instagram post from 18-year-old Jeremiah Pat-Rel Bolton.
In the post, he stated people were going to be “dead” due to “the bomb” going off in 10 minutes, the affidavit said. He finished by writing, “Sorry for the loss.”
The following day, a deputy with the Lake County Sheriff’s Office spoke to Bolton at the high school. He indicated that he was trapped in the student parking lot due to the lockdown. He posted the statement on Instagram because he had stomach issues, and he needed to go to the bathroom, the affidavit said.
Because of the bomb threat, students were forced to remain in lockdown, interfering with the educational process. Administrative staff were forced to escort law enforcement to search the campus for explosives, as well, the affidavit said.
Bolton was ultimately arrested at the school on Monday morning for a warrant charging him with written threats of mass terrorism and disruption of school function. He was booked at the Lake County Jail and released after posting $10,000 bond.