Anne Arundel Co. Police Investigate Cyberbullying Case
GAMBRILLS, Md. (WJZ) -- In Anne Arundel County, police are now involved in a case of cyberbullying.
As Mike Schuh reports, the incident came to the attention of adults after the teen victim wrote on an Internet site that she might kill herself.
It's been a tough year for one senior at Arundel High. On the website Reddit, the girl writes she's suicidal.
"Since the beginning of the school year, I have been harassed both in person and online by the school's bully."
The girl's name is Sarah and what she says happened is shocking.
"It's gotten to the point where the school will not take action unless I kill myself," Sarah said.
She says the boy wrote, "Go kill yourself. No one would care if you died."
In her posting, Sarah writes that months ago, she went to school officials about the bullying but nothing was done. She says the harassment continued: "Sarah has a boyfriend and I'm still single. Time to die, Sarah."
She posted at 1 a.m. People around the world flooded the school and its principal with emails.
"So we spent much of the very early morning hours Wednesday trying to figure out who the student was," said Bob Mosier, Board of Education.
That morning, they quizzed every Sarah as she walked in.
"When the student arrived at 7 o'clock, she was met by school administrators and her counselor," Mosier said.
By law, he is limited as to what he can say, but her classmates are not.
"I think it's a pretty serious problem," said Kristin.
"I hear about it in almost every class," said Kate.
One parent feels the ultimate responsibility is with the parents.
"You don't ever talk that way. We expect our kids to love each other and be kind and to treat other people that way, as well," said Rachel Campbell.
The principal declined an interview.
"Our principal came on the PA with one of her 15-minute lectures concerning this whole bullying thing and saying how bullying is not acceptable," said Ali.
In a cyberbullying offense, county code at a minimum means a suspension up to reassignment at an alternate school.
Sarah later wrote that she was OK thanks to the online community and said the boy had been suspended.
Anne Arundel County Police say they have opened a case but no charges have been filed against the young man.
