A 13 year-old female from DeRidder has been arrested and charged with terrorizing in relation to a bomb threat directed at the Beauregard Alternative School this week.

According to DeRidder Police Chief Craig Richard, the juvenile — who remains unidentified due to her age — was booked into the Beauregard Parish Jail Thursday evening under the felony-level charge.

“After receiving information in the case, DeRidder Police Department investigators detained and questioned the juvenile suspect in the presence of her guardian. The juvenile admitted to making the threat at the school,” Richard said.

According to authorities, the threat was left as a message on the school’s phone system Wednesday afternoon. It was retrieved from the phone system Thursday morning when school personnel arrived at the school.

DeRidder Police officers and deputies with the Beauregard Parish Sheriff’s Office responded jointly to the scene and evacuated the building immediately after receiving the report of the threat, Richard said.

Richard said the message said the person intended “to blow up the school.”

Bomb experts with the Louisiana State Police and Fort Polk’s Explosive Ordinance Disposal team assisted with inspecting the building for any evidence of explosive materials, and by Thursday afternoon the building was cleared for school operations to resume.

“I would like to thank the multiple agencies who worked with us during this investigation, including the DeRidder Fire Department,” Richard said.