Van Buren, MO. – The Mountain View/Birch Tree School District was closed today and both Winona and Eminence are open with increased law enforcement presence. This is due to a safety concern that originated out of Carter County.
Details from this event can be traced to a release from the Missouri State Highway Patrol. In detail, the Carter County Sheriff’s Office was responding to a call to a local business on Friday the 26th, where there was a false report of a possible threat to an area school.
Multiple police departments and the MSHP were called to assist in the investigation, and it was determined that the threat lacked credibility, leading to the swatting determination. A swatting incident refers to a hoax made to pull law enforcement out to respond to a false threat.
While the threat has been determined to be false in nature, investigation is ongoing and multiple schools have chosen to respond to the incident with increased vigilance.
