JACKSON — Northampton County Sheriff Wardie Vincent said he is fed up with pranksters calling in bomb threats to Northampton County High School-West and KIPP Pride High. “We will not tolerate this kind of behavior,” said Vincent.

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His department spent a good part of this week answering bomb threats when calls came over four consecutive days beginning Monday.

 “You know it’s ridiculous for us to have to spend our time and those students to miss that time learning because somebody does something like that,” he said.

Vincent was pleased to report however that 16-year old Prentis Markeith Crossen of Freeman Street in Garysburg was arrested Friday morning in the incident and charged with making false bomb threats to a building or a school, at Northampton County High School-West. Crossen is a student at Northampton-West who is currently on suspension. Crossen was brought before a magistrate, and placed under a $10,000 secured bond. He is still in custody at the Northampton County Detention Center. His first appearance is Monday morning, Nov. 9.

Vincent said a juvenile petition was issued for 15-year-old yesterday in this same case. He was taken into custody at Juvenile Detention on the same charges as Crossen for the call placed to Northampton County High School-West, Nov. 4. He makes his first appearance in court Tuesday.

Vincent said, “We are following up further on evidence. We’re assisting the Gaston Police Department with the calls to KIPP Pride High, looking at connection between two. We believe there will be forthcoming charges related to the two incidents.”

Vincent applauded the diligence and hard work of the school safety officers, Northampton High School West Principal Felisha Wyche and Investigator Brenda Burnette who handled the case.