Saline County State's Attorney Mike Henshaw Monday formally charged a Harrisburg Middle School janitor accused of making a terrorist threat.
Harrisburg Police Thursday afternoon arrested Jeffery Thomas Cowsert, 44, 1000 S. Ledford St., Harrisburg. He posted $2,500 cash bond and was released.
Monday afternoon Henshaw filed two charges against Cowsert: Making a terrorist threat and disorderly conduct, according to a bill of information distributed from Henshaw's office.
The terrorist threat charge stems from a threat Cowsert is believed to have made to come to the school and shoot people and then shoot himself, according to the document.
The disorderly conduct charge stems from the belief Cowsert knowingly transmitted a threat of violence, death or bodily harm directed against those at the school with a threat to shoot people, according to the court document.
Harrisburg Police Chief Bob Smith will have officers at the school this week as a precaution.
"We want to put the teachers', students' and parents' minds at ease for a little while," Smith said.
Police presence was at the school today and Tuesday.
"For the rest of the week we'll see how things go," Smith said.
Harrisburg School Unit 3 Superintendent Dennis Smith called for police after hearing word from other janitors Cowsert had made threats against the school if he was not promoted to head janitor at the school, according to court documents.
Officers Todd Cavender and Curt Hustedde interviewed four janitors and learned Cowsert had made comments he was going to shoot people and then kill himself if he was not promoted when the head janitor retired and talked about sabotaging the school's heating and cooling system in such a way only he could repair it, according to court documents.
