Crime & Safety
Twitter Threat Leads to Boosted Security at STLCC-Meramec
A tweet aimed at the financial department at St. Louis Community College-Meramec ended in a student arrest this afternoon.
Updated: Aug. 28 at 5:45 p.m.
A perceived threat posted by a student on Twitter led to an increase in security at St. Louis Community College-Meramec in Kirkwood, according to a Facebook post by STLCC-Meramec's student news source, the Montage.
Kirkwood Police Department said in a release Wednesday that the student had been arrested and was then released based on pending warrants. DeLancey Smith, director of public information with STLCC, said the student, a female, was told she may not return to any of the campuses at this time.
Smith said the threat had been discovered at around 9:30 Wednesday morning as part of regular social media monitoring. The tweet expressed frustration with the financial aid process, not against any person in particular, Smith added.
"It's a very regrettable incident," Smith told Patch. "The student turned herself in to Kirkwood Police once she understood the situation and seemed very remorseful."
Smith said campus police sent out email updates to students and staff at Meramec to alert them to the situation, as well as when the financial aid office reopened and the student turned herself in.
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