WLKM Radio 95.9 FM
The online trend “Cat in the Hat” has sparked plenty of social media accounts to be under investigation locally. The trend is threatening students.
Last week, Constantine High School was put into a precautionary perimeter hold on Friday because of a potential threat. Centreville-Consatntine Police learned of potential online threats directed toward specific students from TikTok and other social media platforms. They were posted by someone using variations of the username “catinthehat” according to authorities.
Pictures and videos, some used by AI generated software, showed a life-sized version of Dr. Seuss’ Cat in the Hat character lurking the streets or by people’s homes. Threatening messages were also included in the posts. Original posts identified individual students by first name, saying they were “next,” according to the St. Joseph County Prosecutor’s Office.
Michigan law prohibits certain forms of cyberbullying, including posts that are intended to incite “fear of bodily harm or death and that express an intent to commit violence,” St. Joseph prosecutors said.
Once school was dismissed on Friday, Constantine Superintendent Patrick Breen released a second statement to parents, assuring them law enforcement did not find any viable threats. Sweeps of the campus and an increased presence were both utilized out of an abundance of caution.
White Pigeon Superintendent Shelly McBride also released a statement. She said while authorities did not find credible threats locally, they did identify a person responsible for creating the online posts. A specific school was not identified by authorities.
The St. Joseph County Prosecutor’s Office released a statement on Sunday along with CCPD. They mentioned the threats not being a “harmless joke” and criminal charges will be filed if so warranted. Those charges will be filed “regardless of whether the person responsible is a juvenile or an adult.” Prosecutors did say legal consequences are very real for those creating, sharing or even re-posting social media threats. Those consequences include cyberbulling or cyberstalking in addition to other offenses, dependent on circumstances.
Officials said following Friday’s posts, more copycat accounts have posted similar threats.
The Prosecutor’s Office plans to continue to investigate the threats.
