Crime & Public Safety
Crime & Public Safety

Man accused of threating Spalding County school, Griffin police

A threat led to a lockdown of all Spalding County public schools Thursday. (Credit: Channel 2 Action News)
A threat led to a lockdown of all Spalding County public schools Thursday. (Credit: Channel 2 Action News)
By Ellen Eldridge and Lauren Foreman
March 10, 2017

A man who allegedly threatened to “shoot up” a Spalding County school and the Griffin Police Department was arrested Thursday, officials said.

Joseph Miller Jr., 28, was found outside a county services building with ammunition and a flare gun, Channel 2 Action News reported.

Miller’s brother called police about 8:30 a.m., saying Miller made the threats before leaving a residence with long guns, Channel 2 reported.

School officials immediately locked down all 18 Spalding County public schools until just after noon.

Griffin police spokesman Lt. Michael Natale said anytime someone makes a threat against a school system it’s taken seriously.

Miller had recently moved into a transitional home, but administrators had not evaluated whether he had mental health issues, Channel 2 reported.

In other news:

The man shot by police outside the Georgia Dome is speaking out for the first time.

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Ellen Eldridge
Lauren Foreman
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