High School Student Charged With Felony After Alleged Threat

CANTON, MI – A 17-year-old Plymouth-Canton Community School student is facing serious charges after police say he wrote threats on bathroom walls in the schools. If convicted, Brendan James Sibel also faces serious jail time – up to 20 years – on two terrorism threats.

Sibel on Wednesday was arraigned on the charges, as well as two bomb threat charges. The four charges are all felonies. Judge Ronald Lowe set Sibel’s bail at $250,000, and Sibel is to appear in court Thursday for a bail hearing.

The charges stemmed from an investigation this week into reports of the messages written on the walls of the bathrooms in Canton and Salem high schools. The threats, despite coming from students, are being taken seriously, said Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy in a statement.

"We are evaluating these very serious cases on an individual basis," Worthy said. "In this case, we can prove beyond a reasonable doubt alleged bomb and terrorism threats."

Monica L. Merritt, P-CCS Superintendent of Schools, agreed: "Threats made against our schools, regardless of intent, will not be tolerated. Any threats to the safety of our students and staff will be taken seriously, and those deemed responsible will be held accountable."

The threats in this case were reported this week. The school district's Plymouth, Canton and Salem high schools last Thursday, March 1, were locked down after a possible threat. Students were released from school at noon that day, and is not related to the threats this week, police said.

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