Administrative Services Division of Fire Safety

Hazardous Materials Response Massachusetts Firefighting Academy

DEVAL L. PATRICK
GOVERNOR
ANDREA J. CABRAL
SECRETARY
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Executive Office of Public Safety and Security
Department of Fire Services
P.O. Box 1025 State Road
Stow, Massachusetts 01775
(978) 5673100 Fax: (978) 5673121
www.mass.gov/dfs



STEPHEN D. COAN
STATE FIRE MARSHAL

For Immediate Release: September 25, 2014
Contact: Jennifer Mieth, (978) 567-3381

Bomb Threat at Holyoke Community College Actually Coded Drug Sale

A message on the social media platform Yik Yak this morning appeared to be a bomb threat
for the Holyoke Community College library. An alert student reported it to campus police
and the library was evacuated. The State Police Bomb Squad responded. The ensuing
investigation quickly determined the message was not a bomb threat but rather a coded drug
sale message and the person responsible was identified and apprehended.

A juvenile has been arrested and charged with distribution of marijuana, possession with
intent to distribute marijuana, and distribution of marijuana in a school zone.

This incident was investigated by Holyoke Community College Campus Police, State Police
assigned to the Hampden District Attorneys Office, Holyoke Police and Fire Departments,
the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Federal Bureau
of Investigation, and State Police assigned to the Office of the State Fire Marshal.


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