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Reported threats against Newton, Southeast Polk schools add to growing number across Iowa

A teenager was taken into custody in Newton while the police continue to investigate threats in the Southeast Polk Community School District.

NEWTON, Iowa — Additional schools in central Iowa have confirmed they investigated potential threats within their districts this week.

Earlier this week, teens were arrested for separate threats made against schools in Pella and Centerville.

Here are the latest incidents reported by law enforcement.

Newton

A juvenile was taken into custody on Wednesday after a Newton police investigation led to a Facebook post saying he was going to "shoot up every school the next day," according to a police release.

A Snapchat message discussing how someone would use fire arms to carry out a shooting was reported to police Wednesday morning, but the investigation found it to be not connected to Newton.

While investigation took place however, authorities received tips about the Facebook post.

After Newton police located and took the teen behind the Facebook post into custody, the teen allegedly admitted to posting the threat and law enforcement learned he had firearms in his residence.

The juvenile was transported to Criminal Iowa Detention Center in Eldora and charged with Threat of Terrorism (Class D Felony) and Harassment in the First Degree (Aggravated Misdemeanor).

Safe+Sound Iowa was the reporting system used to notify law enforcement of the threat. The app is free to use and all submitted tips are anonymous.

According to the Newton News, the school district dealt with another potential online threat just last week after a viral TikTok video which many believed was a "hit list" of schools was found to include Newton.

However, it was found that the video was instead referencing a Newton school district in the state of Georgia.

Before the post was found to be not credible, Newton's Berg Middle School staff responded to the potential threat.

The post was traced back to a teen who did have firearms, Newton News notes.

RELATED: 'Off to a very disappointing start': Iowa Department of Public Safety raises concerns over school threats

Southeast Polk

Southeast Polk Community School District dealt with its own threats Thursday which were found to be not credible by Altoona and Pleasant Hill police.

The school district stated in a message to parents that it had been made aware of an alleged threat directed at both its middle and junior high schools stemming from similar threats across the state. It will continue to take each threat seriously, the district said.

While this threat was deemed not credible, the district maintained that it would continue to take precautionary steps while continuing close contact with police to better guarantee student and staff safety.

"This is our first year for a school other than an elementary school in Altoona -- we take each threat very seriously, it is resource intensive, but we do take the threats very seriously," Lt. Alyssa Wilson with the Altoona Police Department said.

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