Series Of Threats Made To Orange County High Schools Via Mobile App
ANAHEIM (CBSLA.com) — A pair of online threats targeting an Anaheim high school led to three arrests over the weekend, police said.
On Monday, another threat -- like the ones before it, made anonymously through the mobile application OGLE -- targeted El Modena High School in Orange.
"I feel as though if it weren't anonymous, then these things wouldn't have been said," said Elisa Hernandez, a student at El Modena. "It's gotten really bad."
Late Friday afternoon, police received a tip of threats made to Loara High School on OGLE -- a campus-oriented platform, said Anaheim Police Sgt. Daron Wyatt.
The investigation quickly ended with the arrest of a 15-year-old Loara student, he said. No weapons were found at his home and there was no indication he had the means to carry out the threat, Wyatt said.
He was booked at Orange County Juvenile Hall for suspicion of making criminal threats.
On Saturday evening, Loara High School officials notified police of a second threat via OGLE, Wyatt said.
The threat -- reportedly unconnected with the first -- spurred another investigation that yielded two arrests this afternoon, the sergeant said.
Anaheim police pulled over suspect Miguel Meza, 18, and found two loaded handguns in his vehicle, Wyatt said. Meza is a former Loara student who is completing high school credits elsewhere, according to the sergeant.
He was arrested for suspicion of making criminal threats and possession of loaded handguns.
Another male in the car, Anaheim resident Johnny Aguilar, 23, was also arrested on the same weapons charge in addition to probation violations.
Both were booked at Orange County Jail.
According to police, OGLE allows users to post comments, pictures and videos anonymously. It also has a chat feature and the ability to send photos and videos that can be automatically deleted after 10 seconds.
The app presents a special challenge to law enforcement, Anaheim Police Department Sgt. Daron Wyatt said, since there is no formal registration or log-in process for users.
"We urge parents to be aware of their children's' online presence," Anaheim Police Chief Julian Harvey said in a statement released Sunday. "At the same time, students and parents alike need to understand we do not take these threats lightly. We will prosecute anyone who makes such threats, even as a hoax, to the fullest extent of the law."
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