An 11-year-old Canton boy is in custody after police say he made a series of false emergency calls, including a bomb threat and a report of a shooting, targeting the Stark County District Library.
Canton Police Chief John Gabbard said the first call was received Tuesday, April 8, at 11:45 a.m. through the Crisis Center Suicide Hotline. The anonymous caller claimed he had shot someone inside the library. A second call, received at 12:15 p.m., reported a bomb threat at the same location.
These calls followed a similar report made Monday, April 7, alleging that a person with a gun was inside the library.
In each instance, officers responded quickly and secured the main library, ultimately finding no threat to public safety.
Through an investigation, detectives identified the caller as an 11-year-old resident of Canton. JMN has decided not to name the juvenile suspect due to his age. If he ends up being tried as an adult in this matter, that may change JMN’s position on this. He was taken into custody and transported to the Stark Attention Center (Multi-County Juvenile Attention System). He faces multiple felony charges.
The investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with information is urged to contact the Canton Police Detective Bureau at (330) 489-3144. Anonymous tips can also be submitted through Tip411 or Stark County Crime Stoppers. To sign up for Tip411, visit www.cantonohio.gov/police.
