Orangeburg, SC (WLTX) - A Santee teen has been arrested after a bomb threat was made at an Orangeburg County high school.
Orangeburg County Sheriff Leroy Ravenell said 17-year-old Terrell Whaley, Jr., has been charged with two counts of making a bomb threat or conveying false information regarding a bomb threat.
Whaley was arrested on Wednesday after the fifth bomb threat had been received at Lake Marion High School in Santee.
Sheriff's investigators were called to the school just after 11 a.m. When school officials said a caller stated, "I hate Lake Marion High School, and I'm about to blow the whole (expletive) school up," according to the report.
Working with phone companies and modern technology, sheriff's investigators were able to identify Whaley as the individual who made Wednesday's call. The teen is also charged with making a similar call sometime between April 23 and 24.
"These are very serious charges that have the potential to cause injury even if there is no explosive device," the sheriff said. "The school was evacuated in an orderly manner. But had there been a sudden rush, someone could have been seriously injured."
Investigators say Whaley has admitted he made the calls and that there was never a device placed anywhere on the Tee Vee Road campus.
"These types of calls, whether they're genuine or not, use a lot of manpower and resources," he said. "Not only are law enforcement resources used, but the school's resources are drained while class is disrupted for the student body."
Whaley is facing between one and 10 years on each charge, if convicted. More arrests are expected.
Bond set at $20,000 cash or surety bond.
