16-year-old charged for threatening Instagram message

Published 9:11 am Tuesday, February 27, 2018

On Mon., Feb. 26,  around 8 p.m., Covington County Sheriff’s Department deputies were dispatched to a residence in Gantt in reference to an Instagram message stating that there was going to be an incident at Straughn School.This message was received by a juvenile who lives in the house.

After talking to the person receiving the message, deputies went to a residence on Harbor Driver to talk to the juvenile who allegedly sent the message. After investigators arrived on the scene and started talking to the suspect, he confessed to the sending the message.

The Department of Youth Services was contacted and the 16-year-old-male was arrested and transported to the Diversion Center in Dothan. This case is still under investigation and further charges could be pending.

Sheriff Dennis Meeks would like to remind parents and guardians to be diligent in checking their child’s social media activity.