LAURINBURG — A bomb threat at Scotland High School made through social media forced students and faculty into Pate Stadium for about an hour Thursday morning while investigators made a sweep of the school campus.

The all-clear was given at about 9 a.m.

According to Meredith Bounds, public information officer for Scotland County Schools, the individual responsible for the bomb threat was apprehended and “they admitted it was a hoax.”

Laurinburg police Capt. Chris Young said the threat was reported at about 7:45 a.m.

“Officers responded to Scotland High School where preliminary precautions were taken, which included assisting high school staff with the students being evacuated to predetermined locations and a search conducted,” he said.

Young added that the individual is an 18-year-old from Bennettsville, South Carolina. Marlboro County took the male into custody and he was turned over to Laurinburg police authorities.

Laurinburg police officially charged Paymus Jovan Taylor with making a false bomb report to a public building. After investigation, Taylor was jailed in the Scotland County Jail under a $20,000 secured Bond.

“We would like to thank the Marlboro County Sheriff’s Office for their quick response to help in the apprehension,” Young said.

The threat was reportedly made on Facebook and reported by an undisclosed agency to the Laurinburg Police Department. After investigators made a sweep of Pate Stadium, students and faculty were evacuated from the high school into the stadium. The rest of the campus, as well as the school, was then swept before the all-clear was given.

“All students were safe and were returned to class,” Bounds said. “Additional law enforcement (were) on campus the remainder of the day.”

While the evacuation was in force, the high school campus was locked down and no traffic was allowed in or out of the property.

Young said the investigation remains ongoing.

W. Curt Vincent can be reached at 910-506-3023 or [email protected].

On Feb 28th, Laurinburg Police officially charged Paymus Jovan Taylor 18 B/M of Bennettesville S.C. with making a False Bomb Report to a Public Building. Mr. Taylor used a social media account to make the threat in which Police were notified.

After investigation, Mr. Taylor was jailed in the Scotland County Jail under a $20,000.00 secured Bond. We would like to thank the Marlboro County Sheriff’s Office for their quick response to help in the apprehension.

Taylor
https://www.laurinburgexchange.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/web1_mug12.jpgTaylor
Individual who posted hoax on social media in custody

W. Curt Vincent

Staff writer