There is extra police presence at Oceanside High School in Rockland after a 20-year-old man made threatening social media statements toward the school.

Thomas Sawyer Knox County Jail photo

Superintendent John McDonald said school officials were informed Saturday by police that they had charged a man for allegedly making a threat against the school.

“They assure us that the threat poses no danger to our students,” McDonald said in a statement posted on Facebook. “However, in an abundance of caution, there will be an increased police presence at Oceanside High School tomorrow, and in general at our school facilities.”

Thomas Sawyer, 20, was arrested Saturday and charged with terrorizing. He was released on $1,500 unsecured bail.

McDonald thanked the police department for its “swift action” in responding to the threat.

The threat at the Rockland school is the latest in a series of threats made against Maine schools in the wake of the school massacre in Parkland, Florida, in February. More than a dozen Maine schools have responded to threats of violence and at least 13 students have been charged with terrorizing their communities.


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