COVINGTON, Ga. — A juvenile suspect has been charged over threats made against a Newton County middle school.

The threats were determined not to be credible, the Sheriff’s Office and Newton County School System said.

The student was taken into custody, then released, Deputy Michael Gregg told The Covington News.

As a juvenile suspect, the identity of the student has not been released to the public.

Sheriff Ezell Brown said investigators from his office, along with school resource officers, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and school system officials have been looking into threats about Liberty Middle School.

“At this time, a juvenile suspect has been identified and charged with terroristic threats and giving false information,” the Sheriff’s Office said in a news release.

Threats were made against the school Monday, and then against Tuesday night for classes on Wednesday.

“The Newton County School System deeply appreciates the assistance of both the Newton County Sheriff’s Office and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation in the quick identification of the juvenile responsible for posting threatening comments regarding Liberty Middle School on social media,” district spokeswoman Sherri Davis said.

“Comments like the ones posted this week cause extreme distress to students, staff and parents and will not be tolerated by our district. While investigators determined that these particular social media comments did not represent credible threats, the Newton County School System must and will treat every threat to school safety seriously; they will always be investigated and reported to local law enforcement,” Davis said.

She said the school district “will always err on the side of caution.”

Brown urged students not to post or share any threats they see because it could lead to charges.

“Online posts such as this post or any other post with threatening statements regarding students, staff and parents will not be tolerated,” Gregg said.

“While this social media post did not represent credible threats, the Sheriff’s Office and the school system take every threat to the school system’s safety serious and will not rest until we bring those who are responsible to justice.”

Davis said the student charged also faces disciplinary action from the school system in addition to consequences through the criminal justice system.

“We also want to thank the parents of Liberty Middle School students for their cooperation and understanding as we investigated these recent social media threats and assure them that the safety of our school is our number one concern,” she said.

Gregg said the sheriff encouraged members of the school community to return to their routines “but be vigilant, not just today, but at all times.