Two teenagers were arrested on Friday, Sept. 13, and charged with making a terrorist threat and disorderly conduct in connection to social media posts that were made after Thursday's lockdown at Foley High School.

The posts were shared and re-shared on "numerous social media platforms and to a large number of people," Foley Police Chief Thurston Bullock said in a news release Sunday. "These posts caused alarm for students, parents and faculty to fear for their safety, especially after Thursday's lockdown at the school."
He said the school is taking disciplinary action.

Lion students and staff went on lockdown Sept. 12 after an incident that did not include a firearm being shot or recovered, despite claims on social media, Bullock wrote at the time. Photos being shared were from an old incident or not taken on the school campus at all, he said.

The police department had an increased presence at all Foley schools on Friday as well as at the Lions' football game.

The two charged for posts Friday are a boy and a girl, both 15 years old.

"Parents, please talk to your kids. Not all speech (including social media posts) is protected when it crosses certain lines," Bullock said. "There is a reason you cannot yell, 'Fire!' in a crowded theater, as the old example states. The person may have had no intent of actually starting a fire, nor was there ever an actual fire present, but by simply creating panic through words and inciting fear, chaos and potential danger, it can cross that line."

He urged anyone who feels there is information of any potential threat to a school to go through proper channels to notify authorities or a teacher or parent if they don't feel comfortable calling the police.

"Putting something on social media is not reporting it properly and may not only be perceived as malicious, it will most likely create the wrong kind of reactions," he wrote. "It could even potentially tip off the individual and push them into action faster before police have time to investigate and potentially intercept the threat before they carry out their plan to harm."

Bullock said his agency is working on an app where the public can submit tips.
"Students and parents will both have access to send school-related tips from the app that will go directly to our police department and the school resource officers."