From staff reports
New Bethlehem police continue to investigate an “inappropriate” Snapchat photo that was reported by Redbank Valley School District on Sunday.
“We’re still in the early stages of the investigation,” New Bethlehem police Chief Robert Malnofsky said.
Redbank Superintendent John Mastillo said that while he couldn’t share specifics, he offered to lay some fears to rest by saying the photo was not of a sexual nature.
In a letter posted on the district’s website, Mastillo said additional police and security were on hand at the school during the investigation Monday. The original photo was obtained and the student who took the photo was identified, Mastillo said.
The letter said the investigation led to numerous students being contacted and questioned by local police regarding their involvement.
The police are working to separate students who were mentioned in social media but had no involvement in the incident, according to the letter.
Mastillo said in the letter that it was determined Sunday evening that the photo posed no security threat to the students in the school district. The district notified police as soon as it learned of the photo, and criminal charges may follow, he said.
Mastillo said he initially didn’t realize how quickly information about the incident had spread. By Monday morning, he said, school offices and the police departments had been flooded with calls asking for information.
“I didn’t realize how widespread that the information had traveled,” Mastillo said. “By Monday morning, I had maybe 80 to 90 percent of my school district aware that something was going on.”
Mastillo said he didn’t want to create a panic, but when he realized how far the information had spread, he initiated an automated call to parents and guardians.
“I did put a ‘one-call’ out Monday morning at approximately 7:55 a.m.,” he said. “Had I known the information was disseminated throughout my district, I would’ve done it earlier.”