UPDATE: THURSDAY 9/19/2024 10:25 a.m. (EL PASO COUNTY, Colo.) — The El Paso County Sheriff's Office (EPSO) hosted a press briefing on Thursday morning, Sept. 19 just after 9:30 a.m., and Sergeant Kurt Smith clarified that the two students now facing charges for allegedly spreading false information were part of the same school district, and were charged for threats related to each other. Sgt. Smith said that on Wednesday, Sept. 18, 10 separate incidents involving alleged school threats in El Paso County were reported to the Sheriff's Office. He added that no matter what, EPSO will fully investigate all reports. "There are still quite a few threats that are occurring on a daily basis," Sgt. Smith said. "We want to make sure that the students understand, that if they believe there is a danger, that they are still reporting it, what we are concerned about is the amount of people who are actually perpetrating the hoaxes." Sgt. Smith added that parents should be holding their kids accountable while monitoring what their children are doing on social media, and that if students see something, to say something. Reports can always be sent to Safe2Tell, to local law enforcement, or to school staff. ORIGINAL STORY: Students facing charges for spreading false information WEDNESDAY 9/18/2024 5:34 p.m. Two students from separate schools in El Paso County have been charged for participating in spreading false information and interfering with school operations. According to the El Paso County Sheriff's Office (EPSO), one student was charged with Interference of an Educational Institution, and the other was charged for False Reporting and Interference of an Educational Institution.  EPSO said the charges stemmed from information received by EPSO School Resource Officers (SROs) regarding threats against school staff and students in multiple county school districts. The students allegedly either posted or reposted false or misleading information on social media, which EPSO said substantially disrupted the school's regular operations, including student attendance. El Paso County Sheriff Joseph Roybal addressed the issue, in part reminding parents and students that any threat seen on social media should not be spread around, and should rather be reported to Safe2Tell, local law enforcement, or school staff. "Every potential threat is credible until proven otherwise, and my deputies will vet it thoroughly. We are fully committed to ensuring the safety of our children," said Sheriff Roybal. "Sadly, due to the decisions of two individuals to spread concerning misinformation, students, parents, and teachers faced unnecessary fear. This incident is a stark reminder of the severe consequences of spreading false information." Sheriff Roybal said the SROs were able to discredit the potential threats quickly and identify who and where the false information came from. "I am incredibly proud of their diligence and thorough investigations into both incidents," Roybal said. Roybal encouraged parents to talk with their kids about the importance of speaking up when they see or hear something concerning, as well as the potential consequences of intentionally spreading or reporting false information and the strain on resources it can cause. EPSO pointed out that taking SROs away from other duties impacts school safety. The names of the students have not been released due to their ages.