Behind the Badge
Two separate criminal threats against Loara High School resulted in the arrest of a 15-year-old student and an 18-year-old man who had a gun in his car when Anaheim Police pulled him over. A third man who was with the armed man was arrested for other violations, police said.
In the first incident, the APD late Friday afternoon was notified about threats being made to Loara HS via the OGLE application, a campus-oriented platform that allows users to anonymously post comments, photographs, videos and to exchange messages, themes and chat with others.
An investigation led to the arrest late Saturday afternoon of the 15-year-old, a sophomore at Loara HS. Police did not find any weapons in the boy’s home and said there is no indication he had the means to carry out the threat. The teenager was booked at Orange County Juvenile Hall for making criminal threats.
In the second incident, Loara HS officials notified the APD Saturday evening about another threat made to the school via the same OGLE app.
Through extensive investigation, APD detectives identified the suspect in that incident as Miguel Meza, 18, of Anaheim.
Police contacted Meza during a vehicle stop early Sunday afternoon and found two loaded handguns in the car. Meza was arrested for making criminal threats and possession of loaded handguns.
APD booking photo
A second male with Meza, Johnny Aguilar, 23, of Anaheim, was arrested for possession of loaded handguns and probation violations.
Both Meza and Aguilar were booked at Orange County Jail in Santa Ana.
“This investigation highlights the seriousness with which these threats are viewed and how quickly law enforcement will respond to prevent an incident from occurring,” the APD said in a news release Sunday.
The OGLE app allows users to post anonymous content to a campus without being near the campus. Photos and videos posted to the app or sent in a chat also can be set to delete after a set period of time up to 10 seconds.
In a statement, APD Deputy Chief Julian Harvey said: “We urge parents to be aware of their childrens’ online presence. At the same time, students and parents alike need to understand we do not take these threats lightly. We will prosecute anyone who makes such threats, even as a hoax, to the fullest extent of the law.”
In a news release, the APD said many times parents, relatives and friends can see warning signs long before an issue develops to the magnitude of someone making criminal threats.
The APD urged people if they “See Something, Say Something.”
