Foley, Ala. – (OBA) – Two 15-year-olds, a male and a female, were arrested and charged with making a Terrorist Threat and Disorderly Conduct following their creation of separate social media posts that caused alarm in the Foley High School community. The posts, shared widely after Thursday’s resolved lockdown incident, led to increased fear among students, parents, and staff, prompting swift action from both law enforcement and school officials.

Foley Police released additional details about the incident Sunday night. 

On Friday, September 13, 2024, a fifteen-year-old female and a fifteen-year-old male were arrested and charged with Making a Terrorist Threat and Disorderly Conduct after it was discovered that both created two separate social media posts of a threatening nature, after Thursday's incident at Foley High School had already been resolved. The posts were shared and re-shared on numerous social media platforms and to a large number of people. These posts caused alarm and for students, parents, and faculty to fear for their safety, especially after Thursday's lockdown at the school. The school is taking disciplinary action as well.

Parents, please talk to your kids. Not all speech (including social media posts) is protected when it crosses certain lines. There is a reason you cannot yell, "Fire!" in a crowded theater as the old example states. The person may have had no intent of actually starting a fire, nor was there ever an actual fire present, but by simply creating panic through words and inciting fear, chaos, and potential danger, it can cross that line.

If anyone feels that there is information of any potential threats to our schools, please go through the proper channels and notify authorities immediately. We have a procedure in place for dealing with these situations. Students should notify a teacher or parent if they don't feel comfortable calling us and put it into the hands of someone that will handle it the right way. Putting something on social media is not reporting it properly and may not only be perceived as malicious, it will mostly likely create the wrong kind of reactions. It could even potentially tip off the individual and push them into action faster before police have time to investigate and potentially intercept the threat before they carry out their plan to harm.

The Foley Police Department is working on an app to help make submitting a tip easier for our community. Students and parents will both have access to send school-related tips from the app that will go directly to our police department and the School Resource Officers. The app will allow for a quick and easy tip submission process. You can remain anonymous and will not need direct contact with an officer to submit.