DEPUTIES ARREST 14-YEAR-OLD AFTER BOMB SCARE AT LANCASTER HIGH.

Byline: Bhavna Mistry Daily News Staff Writer

A ninth-grader was arrested Wednesday following the discovery of a package that resembled a bomb at Lancaster High School, a day after Quartz Hill High School was evacuated over a bogus bomb threat.

According to school officials, a high school security officer noticed the package and the boy near it about 12:15 p.m. in a quad area that is off limits to students.

"The package was made to look like a device but was never was a threat," said John Ament, an arson-explosives detail detective. "It contained no explosives."

The 14-year-old, whose name was not released due to his age, was arrested on suspicion of manufacturing a hoax device and was being held at the Antelope Valley station awaiting transportation to a juvenile facility.

An anonymous bomb threat was called in to the sheriff's station against Highland High School. Deputies searched after the 7:30 a.m. call, but classes continued as normal.

Antelope Valley Union High School District Assistant Superintendent John Hutak said the bomb threats concern school officials.

"Although many of these are hoaxes, we treat them as though they are the real thing," Hutak said. "It disrupts the educational process."

Explosives experts flew to Lancaster High School on Wednesday and evacuated eight classrooms.

Once students were dismissed in the afternoon, arson-explosives deputies dug a small hole, placed the package inside and blew it up with a charge they attached to it.

The hoax came a day after Quartz Hill High School officials evacuated 2,300 students following a bomb threat telephoned to the sheriff's station. Quartz Hill students were sent home while sheriff's explosive experts and a police dog searched the campus. No bomb was found.