Osceola Sheriff adds K-9s to Harmony and St. Cloud football after clearing false threats

High school football in Osceola County, Florida, is often a community anchor for working families and local teens. On Friday, October 23, that tradition continues in St. Cloud with an expanded police presence following a week of student arrests and false alarms.

The Osceola County Sheriff's Office confirmed that the matchup between Harmony High School and St. Cloud High School remains on the schedule. Authorities added deputies, K-9 units, and mounted patrol officers to the field. St. Cloud Police Department officers will also secure the venue. These measures follow the sheriff's office determination that recent shooting threats were unfounded.

The security plan addresses threats that emerged after nine students were arrested for an earlier attack. A tip arrived on Thursday night claiming a shooting would occur at the game. Text messages containing the same warning spread through the school community on Friday morning. Deputies investigated both the initial report and the digital messages. Officials concluded that neither threat was genuine.

Investigators examined a specific claim that the injured teenager from the previous week's assault was responsible for the false threats. The sheriff's office ruled that allegation false as well. As of Friday, no one had been identified as the source of the threats, and officials had not established a connection between the threatener and the injured student.

The underlying incident occurred on October 16 near Harmony High School. Several students allegedly beat a 17-year-old who received 11 stitches at a hospital. The beating followed a lunch period incident where the teenager stood up to students throwing carrots at a girl. Nine students, aged 14 to 18, were arrested on October 21. They face charges of felony aggravated battery and felony inciting a riot.

Captain Kim Montes of the Osceola County Sheriff's Office addressed the false reporting. She stated that false reports of a shooting will not be tolerated. Montes noted that if the suspect is identified, that person will be charged. The origin of the threats remained unknown as the game proceeded.