Hyde Park middle school to be closed Thursday after written threat discovered inside
According to investigators, a student found the graffiti at Haviland Middle School in the Town of Hyde Park on Wednesday. The school will be closed Thursday.
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Police say they are investigating a written threat that was discovered inside a Dutchess County middle school.
According to investigators, a student found the graffiti at Haviland Middle School in the Town of Hyde Park on Wednesday. The school will be closed Thursday.
Police say that student alerted school personnel, who brought it to the attention of administration.
According to authorities, photographs were taken of the writing before district janitorial staff removed it. The substance of the threat and where it was written was not immediately known.
Officers responded to the school around 4:45 p.m. Police say they interviewed those aware of the writing and reviewed surveillance footage.
Investigators say they are still working to identify the person responsible for the threat.
News 12 obtained a letter Hyde Park Schools Superintendent Dr. Pedro Roman sent to school staff and parents.
"As both a superintendent and a parent, I recognize how unsettling news of this nature can be," Roman stated. "I want to reassure our families that we take every reported threat seriously and are committed to responding thoughtfully, thoroughly, and in collaboration with law enforcement."
Around 6:30 p.m., Roman issued a second letter, alerting parents that Haviland Middle School will be closed Thursday out of an abundance of caution and to allow law enforcement to investigate the incident. All other schools in Hyde Park will remain open.
Wednesday's incident comes just over a month after an armed man in tactical gear was spotted riding a bicycle through a field behind the middle school. Daniel Prospero, 54, was later arrested in connection with this incident.
Police ask anyone with information about the written threat to call the Town of Hyde Park Police Department at 845-229-9340 and ask to speak with Officer Passantino or Detective Felicello.
