VINITA, Okla. — It was a bizarre day in Vinita on Monday when police say an unidentified male called in a threat to the high school.
Later, they believe the same person called in a threat to a McDonald’s in town, saying he had guns and bombs.
Police immediately started blocking off traffic in the area.
Making things even more strange, they say the suspect was describing the scene to them over the phone in real-time, making them think he was nearby.
We talked to a local man, Chris Smith, who came down to check on his family in the area.
“From what I’ve heard, they’re still on the loose, I guess. I hope they find him because this is scary,” Smith said.
After many hours of investigating threats across the city, a joint statement was released by the Vinita Police Department, Vinita Public Schools, and Craig County Sheriff’s Department on Facebook.
Posted by Vinita Police Dept on Monday, January 25, 2021
Authorities from multiple law enforcement agencies were staged outside a McDonald’s location across from Vinita City Hall for several hours after reports of a person suspected to be connected to the school threats in the area.
They later determined the person they’d been communicating with wasn’t a credible threat.
At last check, the suspect was still at large.
Classes will resume on Tuesday at Vinita High School.
Cox Media Group