A 17-year-old and two juveniles stand to face some heavy consequences for a prank bomb threat that shook the city of Marion on March 6.
The police department received a call at about 9:45 a.m. regarding a suspicious package found on the steps at an address in the 200 block of Hillcrest Drive. The package had a note attached stating the package was a bomb.
The immediate area around the residence was evacuated by the Marion Police Department and Marion Area Fire Department.
The Brown/Outagamie County Bomb Squad was contacted to investigate the package.
It was determined that the contents of the package was not a bomb and the public was not in danger.
Police Chief Kevin Schultz said the package turned out to contain a VCR.
He also said there was no indication the youths involved knew the people who live at the address where they left the package.
“Apparently, it was done as a prank,” Schultz said.
Police received a tip that led to identifying the alleged culprits, and on Tuesday they were interviewed and admitted to being responsible for the incident.
A 17-year-old and two 14-year-olds admitted to placing the package on the steps with the bomb threat note, the police department said. All are expected to be charged with bomb scares and disorderly conduct.
The 17-year-old will be charged as an adult, according to Schultz. The charges had not yet been filed as of Friday afternoon, according to the state’s circuit court access web site.
The two 14-year-olds have been referred to social services.