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Rye Students Evacuated After 'Bomb Threat' Note Found In Boys Bathroom

RYE, N.Y. -- Rye's high school and middle school were evacuated for about two hours Tuesday after a note carrying the threat of a bomb was found in a boys bathroom.

Rye High students walk back to class, crossing Milton Road, after temporarily going to Midland Elementary School.

Rye High students walk back to class, crossing Milton Road, after temporarily going to Midland Elementary School.

Photo Credit: Jon Craig
Westchester County and Rye police vehicles outside Rye High School on Tuesday morning.

Westchester County and Rye police vehicles outside Rye High School on Tuesday morning.

Photo Credit: Jon Craig
In addition to Westchester County Police, Port Chester's EMS unit was on standby outside Rye High.

In addition to Westchester County Police, Port Chester's EMS unit was on standby outside Rye High.

Photo Credit: Jon Craig
Students returning to Rye High School about 11:25 a.m.

Students returning to Rye High School about 11:25 a.m.

Photo Credit: Jon Craig

Students and parents said the second-floor bathroom in RHS remained taped off as a crime scene Tuesday afternoon.

Neither school officials nor police have detailed the origin of the bomb scare.

By coincidence, the high school was evacuated about 8:30 a.m. due to a minor kitchen fire.

The full school was evacuated about 9:30 a.m. due to the bomb threat, according to a letter from Rye Schools Superintendent Frank Alvarez.

Rye Police called for assistance from the Westchester County Police Special Operations unit, which brought bomb-sniffing dogs to thoroughly examine school buildings.

Earlier Daily Voice reports and photos can be found here.

County police left the high school at 11:15 a.m. after declaring school buildings safe. Students began returning to their sixth-period classes at 11:25 a.m.

High school students were temporarily relocated to Midland Elementary School and Rye Middle School students were temporarily sent to Osborn Elementary School.

According to Alvarez' letter, RHS Principal Patricia Taylor notified the Rye City Police Department of the threat and declared a building evacuation shortly after 9:30 "with my full support." 

"The students’ teachers remained with them during the whole event. Police Commissioner Bill Pease and I were on the scene during the entirety of the evacuation from, search of and return to the building,'' Alvarez wrote.

"Our highest priority is the safety of our students, faculty and staff. An investigation as to the origin of the threat is now underway,'' Alvarez added. "The students reacted very well to the situation and followed the evacuation procedures perfectly."

 

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