Following a bomb threat against the Michael Berry Career Center at 3:52 p.m. May 18, the Dearborn Heights Police Department and Michigan State Police K-9 unit and bomb squad cleared the building, with nothing of concern found. Students attending latchkey at nearby Howe Montessori School were evacuated to the parking lot of the nearby Islamic House of Wisdom.
By SUE SUCHYTA
Times-Herald Newspapers
HEIGHTS – A bomb threat made at 3:52 p.m. May 18 against the Michael Berry Career Center brought Dearborn Heights police and the Michigan State Police K-9 and Bomb Squad onsite.
A thorough sweep was conducted, with nothing suspicious found. School will continue as normal May 19, with DHPD and a Dearborn Public Schools Resource Officer on site.
The Berry Career Center, STEM Middle School and Howe Montessori School all share a campus near Warren Avenue and Ann Arbor Trail. While the schools are part of the Dearborn Public Schools District, they are in Dearborn Heights.
The Science, Technology, Engineering and Math, or STEM middle school is a magnet school for sixth- through eighth-graders.
Howe Montessori and Center Based Education serves students in preschool through grade 12 that supports students with learning differences, and has before and after-school care.
The latchkey children at Howe were evacuated and picked up by their parents in the parking lot of the nearby Islamic House of Wisdom, where they were waiting inside private vehicles.
Police Chief Michael Guzowski has notified the school administration that it is safe to resume normal operations, and that DHPD and school resource officers will be onsite and available throughout the day.
The bomb threat was made through a call placed at 3:52 p.m. May 18 to the Dearborn Heights police dispatch center, after which police officers were immediately sent to secure the scene.
“Our officers responded quickly and decisively, and we are working closely with Michigan State Police to ensure this matter is thoroughly investigated,” Guzowski said. “The Dearborn Heights Police Department will provide updates as information becomes available.”
The investigation remains ongoing.