Mashpee Student Arrested For Violent Twitter Threat

By: Geoff Spillane
Published: 01/08/13

A Mashpee High School student has been arrested for threatening in a Twitter post to commit a violent crime at tonight's basketball game at Rockland High School, according to a message posted on the Rockland school website by Principal Alan H. Cron.

Mashpee Police Chief Rodney C. Collins confirmed this evening that a 16-year old juvenile MHS student had been identified and subsequently arrested on one felony and two misdemeanor charges in connection with the threat. Chief Collins declined to comment on the content of the social media message.

According to the letter from Mr. Cron, "We received a printed copy of a Twitter communication between a Mashpee teen and a Rockland teen which contained a threat. Coordinating with the Rockland Police Department, the Mashpee Police Department, and members of the Mashpee School Department, the Mashpee teen was questioned and subsequently arrested and charged by the Mashpee Police with a threat to commit a crime and disturbing a school assembly. In preparation for tonight’s home basketball game between Rockland High School and Mashpee High School, in cooperation with the Rockland Police Department, we have put in place additional security measures to ensure the safety of all participants and attendees."

In the days leading up to tonight's highly anticipated basketball game between the two unbeaten teams vying for first place in the South Shore League, there had been a steady back-and-forth stream of taunting Twitter messages between fans of both squads.

Rockland beat Mashpee 78-57 in tonight's game.

The Enterprise will provide updates to this breaking news story as they become available.