MOUNT CLEMENS (WWJ) -- Terrorism charges have been filed against a 29-year-old man in connection with shooting threats made against an Eastpointe elementary school earlier this week.
According to Eastpointe police, their officers responded to reports of death threats being made by phone to Forest Park Elementary, just after 8 a.m. on Monday, Apr. 10.
Officials said a man called the school multiple times just before student drop-off, threatening to "shoot the school up" and saying that he would shoot any students who got off the bus.
The same man phoned again just before 9 a.m. and claimed he had just shot his girlfriend.
Following the initial phone call, Forest Park Elementary immediately went into lockdown, per the district's emergency response procedures.
Once law enforcement arrived and secured the school and neighborhood, students and staff were evacuated to Eastpointe Middle School. Students still on buses were also diverted to the middle school, where their parents were able to pick them up while police and Forest Park staff supervised.
Eastpointe PD -- along with officers from Hazel Park, Sterling Heights, Southfield and Farmington Hills -- walked canine units through the school and surrounding areas. No sign of a shooter or any other threat was found.
Continuing to investigate, detectives identified a likely suspect, who was arrested outside his Detroit home later that day. A search warrant turned up undisclosed evidence, though police noted they did not recover a weapon.
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On Tuesday, Desmond Parks, 29, was arraigned on charges of threat of terrorism -- a 20-year felony -- as well as false report of a felony.
His bond was set at $1 million, and he will be required to undergo a mental health evaluation. Additionally, Parks is not allowed to have internet access and cannot have any contact with Forest Park Elementary. Should he make bail, Parks must have a steel GPS tether.
Parks has a friend whose child attends Forest Park, but he is in no way related to that child and has no other known connection to the school.
Law enforcement also believes Parks may be involved with similar threats in other communities and investigators are reaching out to neighboring police departments for more information.
"Let it be noted that we will use every resource we have to protect our children," Eastpointe PD said in a news release.
"Any threat or tacit threat that is made to harm someone, will be treated as a credible threat, and you will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law."
"This is not a game," authorities added. "Your actions may change your life forever."
Forest Park Elementary also reiterated that the school takes threats made against staff and students very seriously.
"No child should ever be afraid to come to school," school officials stated, "and it is our duty to ensure the safety of all
members of our learning community.
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