Woodstock, ON – The Woodstock Police Service has concluded its investigation into a bomb threat directed at Springbank Public School on April 29, 2026.
As previously reported, shortly after 11:00 a.m. on April 29, 2026, police were notified of a bomb threat at the school. Officers responded immediately and conducted a thorough search of the premises. No suspicious items were located, and the threat was determined to be unfounded.
Following an extensive investigation by the Woodstock Police Service Criminal Investigations Branch (CIB), a 14-year-old young offender has been charged with:
- Public Mischief
- Uttering Threats – Cause death or bodily harm
A general provision of the Youth Criminal Justice Act (Y.C.J.A.) prohibits the release of the name of a Young Person, and, therefore, the identity of the Young Person charged in this investigation is protected.
The investigation determined that the threat was a deliberate hoax that resulted in a significant emergency response involving the Woodstock Police Service, Woodstock Fire Department, and Oxford County Paramedic Services. The incident disrupted the school day and caused unnecessary fear, concern, and stress for students, staff, parents, and members of the community.
As the investigation progressed, Woodstock Police worked closely with law enforcement partners in the United States after information was identified linking this incident to separate investigations south of the border. Through those collaborative efforts, investigators identified a youth in Woodstock and a youth in Ohio as suspects connected to the Springbank Public School bomb threat, as well as other reported bomb threat and swatting incidents in the United States.
Working in partnership with the Fresno Police Department in California, the Youngstown Police Department in Ohio, and with the assistance of the Crown Attorney’s Office, the Woodstock Police Service laid charges against the Woodstock youth in relation to offences alleged to have occurred within the City of Woodstock.
False reports involving bombs, active threats, or other critical incidents are treated with the utmost seriousness. Such incidents divert emergency resources away from legitimate calls for service and can have a significant impact on schools, students, families, and the community as a whole.
The Woodstock Police Service would like to thank the Fresno Police Department, the Youngstown Police Department, the Crown Attorney’s Office, the Thames Valley District School Board, and the administration and staff of Springbank Public School for their cooperation and assistance throughout this investigation.
The Woodstock Police Service would like to encourage anyone with information about this investigation to contact the Woodstock Police Service at 519-537-2323 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).