On 08.24.2023 at 0930 hours Dover Area High School Administrators and Northern York County Regional Police Department School Resource Officers were advised of a student who had been talking to others about bombs planted in the cafeteria. School administrators and the SROs were able to quickly locate the subject and take him to the SRO office in the school.
As a precaution, the Dover Area High School was evacuated at 0956 hours and students and staff were moved to the football stadium located at the Dover Area Middle School. NYCRPD and school personnel did a visual search of the cafeteria and other common areas. Canine units from the York County Sheriff’s Office and neighboring counties were brought into to do a sweep of the school. No explosives were located. Students and staff were moved back to the high school at 1100 hours.
Parents who so desired, were able to pick up their children starting at 1130 hours. This reunification process lasted until approximately 1300 hours. Most students returned to the classroom to finish the school day.
The student involved in the threats was released to his parents. He will face charges through the York County Juvenile Justice System at the conclusion of the investigation.
The Northern York County Regional Police Department would like to thank the Dover Area School District Administration and Staff, the York County Sheriff’s K9 Unit, the Dover Township Fire Department, and patient parents who were picking up their children. Most importantly, we would like to thank the student body for their cooperation and for alerting High School staff about the threat.
The investigation into this incident continues. Anyone with additional information is asked to contact the NYCRPD Tipline at 717.467.8355(TELL) or tips@nycrpd.org.
