The Kent County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a bomb threat that closed Cedar Springs Public Schools Thursday.

According to press release from the school, officials there received a bomb threat by email just before school started on Thursday, March 11. They said the message indicated a threat at Cedar Springs High School. “Staff took immediate action to ensure all students and staff who were in the building were quickly moved to secure locations. Students who had not yet entered the building remained in their cars or on their school buses.  As a precautionary safety measure, all schools on the Cedar Springs Public Schools Campus were immediately closed for the day.”

The Kent County Sheriff’s Office immediately responded to the scene, and the Michigan State Police Canine team came in to help with a sweep of the building. They confirmed the building safe at 11:20 a.m.

“Now that we have determined that our campus is physically safe, our focus will be to support our students and staff from an emotional perspective and to find the person who is responsible for calling in the bomb threat,” said Supt. Scott Smith. 

“Our team of highly trained mental health providers is working on a plan to support students and staff upon re-entering school on Friday, March 12. We are committed to creating safe and secure environments, both physically and emotionally, for all who enter our schools.”

“When crisis situations arise, our team turns to our safety protocols and ongoing training.  The teamwork of our students, parents, Cedar Springs Public Schools staff and administration, local law enforcement agencies, and community partners, is critical to a positive outcome and calm spirit.  The District is appreciative of the cooperation from families as the emergency protocols were put into place. Their calm response and trust helped keep students and employees safe.”

The Kent County Sheriff’s Office will continue to investigate the incident.
Anyone with information regarding this incident or any potentially threatening situation at the school is encouraged to contact the Kent County Sheriff’s Office at 616-632-6100, school administrators, or Silent Observer at 616-774-2345. Always call 911 in an emergency.

A 16-year-old from the Belmont area is being charged with making a bomb threat against Rockford High School.

According to the Kent County Sheriff Department, Rockford Public Schools and several employees have been the target of harassing and threatening telephone calls since October 2014.

A joint investigation with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Kent County Sheriff Department, and Rockford Department of Public Safety, identified the local student as one of several people involved.

On June 17, 2015, the evidence involving the student was reviewed by the Kent County

Prosecutor’s Office, resulting in the 16-year-old male being charged with False Report or Threat of Terrorism (a 20 year felony). The Kent County Sheriff Department said they would be requesting restitution in this investigation.

There are additional suspects that are from outside of Michigan or in another country. They are not releasing details on any of the other suspects at this time due to the ongoing investigation.

The Sheriff Department said that law enforcement and the Rockford Public Schools worked closely to ensure the students were safe at all times. “We want to thank the parents, students, staff, and community for their patience and support during this very time-consuming and meticulous investigation,” said Detective William Marks.

Anyone with additional information is asked to call the Kent County Sheriff Department at 616-632-6357 or Silent Observer at 616-774-2345.

Julie Ann-Marie Haff

A Cedar Springs woman that pled guilty last month to calling in a bomb threat to Woodland Mall will not face jail time.

Julie Ann-Marie Haff, 46, reportedly called in the threat on January 11, at 11:23 p.m. and told mall security there was a bomb in the parking lot. Police traced the call to a man’s phone in Cedar Springs. The man told police his girlfriend used the phone to call in the threat. She admitted the act when police questioned her.

The judge sentenced Haff to 12 months of probation, 50 hours of community service, and $1,200 in costs and fines. Calling in a bomb threat is a felony and she could’ve been sentenced to up to four years in prison.

If Haff doesn’t complete the 50 hours of community service, she could serve 90 days in jail. This is Haff’s first offense.

Julie Ann-Marie Haff

A Cedar Springs woman pled guilty this week to calling in a bomb threat to Woodland Mall.

Julie Ann-Marie Haff, 46, reportedly called in the threat on January 11, at 11:23 p.m. and told mall security there was a bomb in the parking lot.

 Police traced the call to a man’s phone in Cedar Springs. The man told police his girlfriend used the phone to call in the threat. 

Haff entered the guilty plea on Tuesday, March 2, in Circuit Court. Sentencing was set for April 15. The charge is a felony, and she could face up to four years in prison.

The Post previously featured Haff in a story in August of 2013, when she gave her dog credit for saving her life after she suffered a mini stroke.

Stephanie Graham Hull

A Sparta High School student was arrested last weekend for allegedly making a bomb threat at her high school September 18.

According to Sparta Police Chief Andrew Milanowski, a warrant was issued for Stephanie Graham Hull, 18, on September 23, and she was arrested by Grand Rapids Police on Sunday, September 27, after police received a tip on her whereabouts.

Hull is charged with one count of False Report or Threat of Bomb/harmful device, which is a four-year felony. She bonded out on $25,000 cash/surety and will be arraigned on October 7 at 8:30 a.m. in 63rd District Court Rockford.

The bomb threat was called into the school on the morning of September 18, before classes started. Students already in the building were evacuated, and those arriving were not let in until the school had been searched by bomb-sniffing canines. School resumed around 10:30 a.m.

Milanowski said he is uncertain why she might have called in the threat. He said that Hull takes both high school and college courses, but noted that there had been numerous complaints involving her recently. On the same day she allegedly made the bomb threat, she was arrested and later released by the Kent County Sheriff Department for false report of a felony. Milanowski said that issue was unrelated to the bomb threat.