Child accused of threatening teacher

SPRAGUE, Conn. (WTNH) -- In a small town like Sprague, in particular the even smaller village of Baltic, word usually travels fast but when a 7-year-old threatened a teacher at the Sayles School details were slow to emerge.

"Like mum's the word. Who's saying what," said Joe Politowicz.

Joe Politowicz's daughter is in 8th grade and he says she hasn't been able to find out what the 7-year-old said which got him arrested for threatening and breach of peace. He faced a judge in Juvenille court today.

"I just can't imagine a 7-year-old saying something bad enough to be arrested for," said Politowicz.

"I don't care what age you are I mean you shouldn't be threatening. I mean what are the parents doing about it," said Sonya Brunelli another parent.

Details about how this student threatened the teacher are not being released but what News 8 has learned is that no weapon was used and no one was hurt.

The superintendent of schools tells News 8 it was a verbal threat and no other students were involved. He also shared the letter sent home to parents explaining what happened and why information wasn't shared sooner. "Student and staff safety are our paramount concerns, and we would have communicated with you promptly had there been a threat to safety."

"A 7-year-old, I really don't know, would they know what they were saying? I mean they see so much stuff on TV these days," said Brunelli.

"And hear so much on the news I mean it's everywhere," said Cindy Pollingue.

Some wonder if the arrest is more a sign of the times because State Police are not taking any chances with any sign of danger.

"Arresting and making him realize what he did was wrong and maybe it will scare him a little bit to not do it again," said Brunelli.

Because of the students age he is not being identified. He hasn't been suspended but hasn't been back to school.

A note from Superintendent Edmund G. Senesac and posted on the school's website said in part, "A young student at Sayles made a verbal threat against a teacher, for which he was arrested. We have a zero tolerance policy regarding threats, and we addressed the situation promptly. We will not and need not get further into the details, because personally-identifiable student information is confidential under federal law. However, we would like to assure you that no other students were involved in this incident, no weapons were involved, and student and staff safety was never an issue."