Buxton man arrested after allegedly threatening Loranger School

OLD ORCHARD BEACH — A Buxton man was arrested after allegedly making threats to Loranger Memorial School.

Police were dispatched to Loranger Memorial School around 10:15 a.m. today after a report that Derek Smith, 31, of Buxton was making threatening statements about Loranger Memorial School over the phone, according to a press release from Old Orchard Beach Police Department. Police received the information of the threats through someone who had reportedly spoken to Smith.

Police report that Old Orchard Beach schools were immediately put in lockdown and remained in lockdown as the they searched for Smith. Police were unable to find Smith near the school, and further investigation indicated he may not have been in the area of the school when the threats were made.

Loranger Memorial School, located at 148 Saco Ave., serves students in grades three through eight.

Smith was found in Standish just after 12:30 p.m. and taken into custody by Cumberland County sheriff deputies on unrelated warrants, according to police. He was charged by Old Orchard Beach police with terrorizing, a Class C felony. Bail was set at $5,000.

The investigation is ongoing, according to Old Orchard Beach police.

Publisher Liz Gotthelf can be reached at newsdesk@sacobaynews.com.