COLUMBUS, Ohio — A Columbus City Schools parent who was arrested and charged with carrying a weapon on school property faced a judge for the first time today. In this case, school leaders said, “Someone saw something and said something.”
And across the state, there are new resources for reporting school safety concerns.
Brian Johnson was arraigned in court Thursday morning and is being held on a $25,000 cash bond. Johnson is charged with unlawfully transporting a deadly weapon in a school secure area.
Police said Wednesday they found a machete, a hatchet and a Glock BB gun in Johnson’s car, which was parked at Westmoor Middle School.
A statement from CCS explained what happened before police arrived, saying, “Westmoor Middle School increased security levels just before school dismissal as a precaution after staff noticed a parent wearing a weapon.” “The school notified Columbus Police while safety and security personnel were present.” Experts instructed parents to stay away from the building. ”
There are resources available throughout the state. An anonymous tip line where you can call to report concerns about weapons, student or staff behavior, and more.
And just this month, the Ohio Center for School Safety launched a new app for submitting tips by district and by specific location within a school.
Emily Torok, executive director of the Ohio Center for School Safety, said the top three tips they receive are about bullying, threats of violence and self-harm.
The number of reports regarding bullying incidents is increasing every year.
Torok explained who will staff the reporting desk and how they will respond.
“We work with a third-party call center staffed with crisis response experts who answer our calls 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and respond directly to our calls,” Torok explained. . ”
Safer Ohio School Tip Line phone number: 844-723-3764.
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