On 8-30-18, at approximately 5:32 p.m., the director of the YMCA after school program at Chocachatti Elementary School contacted the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office in reference to a parent who allegedly made reference to a bomb at the school.
At this time of day the school was closed with the gate down when the parent and YMCA representative had contact at the front of the school.
The parent told the YMCA representative that he missed picking up his child at the bus stop and was waiting for the bus to return to the school so he could pick up the child.
The YMCA representative explained that the parent should return to his vehicle and wait for the bus in the bus loop.
It was at that time that the YMCA representative thought he heard the parent saying something about not having shoes on and then mumble something about a bomb as he walked away.
A short time later, the bus arrived and the parent picked up his child and left the school.
Being that the YMCA representative believed he heard the parent mention a bomb at the school, deputies responded and conducted a thorough sweep of the campus. Nothing suspicious was found.
At the same time, deputies responded to the parent’s residence to question him regarding the incident.
The parent told deputies he had been at the school earlier and spoken to a representative with the YMCA.
The parent told deputies he wasn’t wearing shoes and actually said to the YMCA representative “I have no shoes on. I look like a bum.”
Deputies also spoke to the bus driver who indicated the parent was apologetic about being late to pick up the child.
Once the search of the school was completed, deputies cleared the scene.
It was determined by deputies that the incident was a misunderstanding and no charges will be forthcoming.
