ST. HELENS, Ore. -- A teen jailed after he reportedly brought an explosive device to school last Friday was charged Monday with possession and manufacture of a destructive device. Meanwhile, police identified another suspect in connection with the case.
The teen charged Monday was released to live with his father on weekdays and mother on weekends. He may not possess any incendiary devices, including matches, lighters or fireworks. He must also comply with all instructions from mental health providers "including medication management."
Police have not released any details on the second suspect, other than the person was involved in the creation of the device.
"We referred that information to the DA's office and Juvenile Department for a charging decision," said St. Helens Police Chief Terry Moss Monday.
St. Helens High School was temporarily evacuated Friday morning after the device was brought to the school, police said.
The 16-year-old sophomore charged Monday had been bragging to his friends at a nearby McDonald's before school, Moss said. Someone told a school staff member, who called police.
An Oregon State Police bomb squad was called in to the school and students were taken by bus to nearby Columbia City Elementary School just before 10 a.m. Students returned to classes after the bomb squad gave the all-clear at about 11 a.m.
Bomb squad officers removed the device from the suspect's locker and rendered it safe, Moss said. Oregon State Police took the device for further analysis.
An investigation hasn't shown a specific threat or motivation by the suspect, Moss said.
"We're talking about some young kids that added a little bit of this and that and came up with this device that, yes, it was explosive and yes, it could have hurt somebody. But to what end I don't know," Moss said after the device was recovered. "We're not talking about a situation where they'd blow up the school, of course, but certainly someone could've been hurt."
