A bomb threat made on TikTok by a fake account impersonating a recently arrested District 118 teacher prompted a heavy police response and full search of Wauconda High School Wednesday evening.
Wauconda High School Principal Jamie Born sent an “important safety update” to families of Wauconda Community Unit School District 118 on Wednesday evening.
The Wauconda Police Department notified the school district just after 8 p.m. Wednesday about a TikTok video containing a possible threat toward Wauconda High School, Born said.
“The safety of our students and staff is our top priority. District administrators are working directly with the Wauconda Police Department and local authorities to fully investigate this post and secure our building,” the principal said.
Another update was sent to families following a further investigation into the threat.
The Wauconda Police Department thoroughly searched the high school and confirmed there was no credible threat.
Born said police cleared the facility and returned operational control to District 118. School is open on a normal schedule Thursday.
Police received the report of a possible bomb threat related to a TikTok post, Born said in the update.
Officers quickly evacuated the small number of students and staff who were in the building.
Neighboring law enforcement agencies assisted Wauconda police officers in conducting a full search of the premises for unauthorized people and explosives.
The Wauconda Fire District also stood by at the scene and bomb-sniffing canine units were called.
Officers found nothing dangerous or suspicious during the sweep.
“Out of an abundance of caution, you will see an increased police presence on campus tomorrow morning to ensure a smooth and safe start to the day,” Born said.
The Wauconda Police Department is continuing to investigate who created the TikTok post.
The account that posted the threat was named “John Anderlik,” which is the name of a District 118 teacher who was arrested last week and charged with distributing and possessing child sexual abuse material, with prosecutors saying he expressed to an online user how his job was “perfect” for his desire to engage in sex acts with children.
The fake account named after the teacher featured his booking photo as the account’s profile photo. The account appears to have since been removed from the social media platform.
Anyone with information regarding the origin of the post is asked to contact the Wauconda Police Department at 847-526-2421.
“We are deeply grateful to the Wauconda Police Department for their swift response and continued partnership in keeping our schools safe,” Born said.
The Wauconda Police Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the incident.