An 18-year-old Erlanger man is behind bars in Northern Kentucky after investigators say he made alarming statements about wanting to hurt people who had wronged him, declared that a local high school should pay, and brought up Columbine. Florence police arrested Jonah Roark on Monday and charged him with terroristic threatening, and he remains in custody as the investigation continues.
Roark was arrested and charged Monday with terroristic threatening, according to WLWT, which reported he is being held at Kenton County Jail. The charge is being filed as second-degree terroristic threatening, per Eagle Country 99.3.
Alleged Statements Reported at a Florence Lowe’s
The case traces back to a report at a Houston Road store in Florence, where people reportedly heard Roark say he wanted to hurt individuals who had emotionally wronged him. Florence Police responded to Lowe’s Home Improvement on Houston Road on Tuesday for the report, the station notes. Investigators said the 18-year-old from Erlanger allegedly made statements the previous day about wanting to harm those who had emotionally wronged him, and that he wanted Dixie Heights High School to pay.
According to the same account, Roark also allegedly referenced the incident at Columbine High School and discussed wanting to do something similar. Police did not say whether Roark was a student at Dixie Heights High School, and that detail has not been established.
Taken to Behavioral Health Before the Arrest
On Monday, Florence Police also intervened over different concerning statements. Roark had been taken to Sun Behavioral Health that day after making alleged statements about wanting to hurt himself, as reported by WLWT.
Police said they notified the Edgewood Police Department along with the school resource officer assigned to Dixie Heights High School, keeping both agencies looped in on the investigation as it developed. As reported by WKRC, Roark now faces charges tied to the alleged threats against the school.
