Bomb Threats Targeting Wicomico Elementary Schools Prompt Overnight Police Patrols

WICOMICO COUNTY, Md. – Authorities are investigating bomb threats made against all Wicomico County elementary schools, just days after a similar threat targeted schools in Fruitland.

At 6:13 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 23, the Fruitland Police Department received a bomb threat telephone call on its non-emergency telephone line, in which the caller referenced a previous attempt to speak with “Captain Holland”. The caller went on to say that, because they were unable to speak with the captain during the initial incident, they would “bomb all elementary schools within the area.”

This is the second bomb threat received by the Fruitland Police Department within a two-day period involving a telephone number associated with the investigation. The Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office has publicly identified the telephone number making Wednesday’s call to be 650-516-6674.

As a precautionary measure, law enforcement personnel are conducting increased patrol checks of Wicomico County Public Schools (WCPS) and coordinating with school officials to ensure the safety and security of students, faculty, and staff. School buildings and grounds are being monitored and secured 24 hours a day through various security measures. Although no specific elementary school was identified in the Sept. 23rd threat, and it has not been deemed credible, law enforcement agencies are taking additional safety measures while the investigation continues.

Investigators say they are actively working to identify the individual or individuals responsible for making the threatening calls. An exigent emergency disclosure request has been submitted to the applicable service provider seeking available subscriber information. WCSO says the requested information includes account creation information, associated email addresses and telephone numbers, recovery information, sign-in IP addresses and corresponding timestamps.

Following consultation with an FBI agent, WCSO says investigators have determined that the subscriber information provided to Google during the registration of the telephone number appears to be fictitious. Investigators also determined that the telephone number used during the Sept. 23 incident was different from the number associated with the Sept. 21 incident. Further review also found the suspect’s Internet traffic was routed through a Virtual Private Network (VPN) server that is currently associated with an IP address in the Netherlands. An FBI agent is currently working to initiate an appropriate INLET request to obtain additional information concerning the VPN connection. Investigators have been advised that obtaining information through this process may be time-consuming.

Wicomico County Public Schools (WCPS) sent a message to families on Wednesday night, alerting them to the threats and disclosing several safety measures being implemented.

“Our law enforcement partners at the local, state and federal level are already supporting our Safe Schools team,” the message to families read, in part. “School resource deputies will patrol school campuses in the morning, prior to what we anticipate will be a normal, on-time start to the school day.”

While schools were opened at regular start-time on Thursday, many parents took to social media, sharing concerns about sending their children to school.

WCSO says their investigation remains ongoing as they work to identify the individuals responsible for placing the threatening calls. Anyone with information regarding the threats or the individuals responsible is encouraged to contact the Fruitland Police Department 410-548-2804, the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office 410-548-4891, or Crime Solvers 410-548-1776.