PEMBROKE PINES, FLA. (WSVN) - Police have arrested a 14-year-old student for making a swatting call targeting Charles W. Flanagan High School in Pembroke Pines, authorities said.
Andy Ismael Cruz, a sophomore at Flanagan High, placed an anonymous call to the Broward Sheriff’s Office at 8:40 a.m. Tuesday, claiming suspicious men, one armed with a gun, were approaching the school.
Pembroke Pines Police units responded with a heavy presence, prompting Flanagan High, Walter C. Young Middle School and Lakeside Elementary to activate a Code Secure.
Students and parents on Wednesday reacted to the heavy response from authorities.
“They said that the police were in the halls, and they had big guns, and they said that, ‘We felt safe, we were told what to do, and we knew what to do,'” said a parent.
“I wasn’t really shocked. To be honest, when I heard that I wasn’t really shocked but then, like, I don’t know, it’s crazy,” said a student.
No threats or suspicious activity were found, and the call was deemed a hoax.
Once the all clear was given, students went home early following the ordeal.
“I left as soon as we got the clear thing, I was gone,” said a student.
“Was it scary?” 7News’ Brandon Beyer asked her.
“I mean, I thought it wasn’t true,” she said.
Authorities also said Cruz made a second call to the Pembroke Pines City Pension Fund office, issuing threats toward the office and the high school.
Detectives from the city’s Threat Assessment Team identified Cruz despite attempts to conceal his identity and location.
Police said Cruz admitted to placing the false calls and was charged with false report concerning the use of firearms in a violent manner, disruption of school function, and misuse of emergency system.
Students and parents said the prank call was reckless and immature.
“They call in a joke, and everybody thinks it’s funny, and it’s not,” said a parent.
“Considering that, like, you know, what’s going on out there, the shootings, that’s pretty crazy to do,” said a student.
“I don’t know, like, what was going through his head. Why would he do that?” said another student.
It’s become a concerning trend at South Florida schools.
Earlier this year, students at Stranahan High School in Fort Lauderdale had their exams disrupted after a prank swatting call forced the school into a lockdown.
In January, two teens and one of their mothers were arrested for making threats toward Somerset Academy Charter in Pembroke Pines.
Now another teen will be facing the consequences of their actions.
“They just don’t seem to get it,” said a parent. “I don’t know what can change. Maybe more severe consequences for them.”
“I just hope that he gets the help that he needs, ’cause that’s not something to joke about. School shootings are pretty serious,” said a student.
Police stressed that swatting and school threats are serious offenses and warned parents to discuss the consequences with their children.
Cruz faces three felony charges for making false reports, which could result in jail time and expulsion from school.
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