Texas teen arrested after bringing homemade clock to school » No charges will be filed in ‘hoax bomb’ case Alex Stanton Staff Writer hmed Mohamed, 14, received a three-day suspension from MacArthur High School in Irving, Texas, for bringing a homemade clock to class after an English teacher reported the teen’s invention as “suspicious in nature” to local authorities. Although Mohamed was arrested and interrogated at a juvenile centre by Irving Police, he was released to his parents later that evening with no charges filed. Following the report of a possible suspicious device in the school, school officials questioned Mohamed about the nature of his invention and the reason he brought it; during the entire questioning period, he maintained that what he brought to school was nothing more than a homemade clock. Speaking to the press, Irving Police Chief Larry Boyd confirmed to the Dallas Morning News that the device was indeed of no threat, calling the whole fiasco a “naive accident.” “We live in an age where you can’t take things like that : to school,” Boyd added. “Of : course we’ve seen across our : country horrific things happen, : so we have to err on the side of : caution.” Upon being asked about : whether Mohamed’s Muslim : name and upbringing may : have played a role in the arrest, : Chief Boyd described to BBC : the “outstanding relationship” : Irving Police have with the : local Muslim community. He : also stated his intent to speak : to members of the Muslim : community, among them : Ahmed’s father, Mohamed : Elhassan Mohamed. A 30-year : resident of the US, Mohamed’s : father said to the Dallas : : Morning News that the scene of : : his son being arrested in front : of his peers was “not America.” When the news was : widely spread on the internet, : the vast majority of social : media rallied behind him : in solidarity, beginning the : hashtag #IStandWithAhmed, : support which was welcomed : by the Mohamed family. Among i) tw x TT ” As well, et : the more prolific supporters : were Facebook CEO Mark : Zuckerburg and President : Barack Obama, who extended : an invitation to the White : House to both Mohamed : and his “cool clock. : Mohamed has been invited : to speak at next month’s : “Astronomy Night,” alongside —: : NASA scientists and astronauts. : “We should inspire more : kids like you to like science,” : Obama tweeted. “It’s what : makes America great.” Mohamed, whose father : describes him as a “very smart, : brilliant kid”, has stated his VERNON BRYANT/THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS/CORBIS : overall displeasure with his high school, and will highly : reconsider his enrolment after : the end of his suspension. “I'm thinking about transferring from MacArthur : to any other school,” Mohamed : told the Dallas Morning News. Amber Alert ends in tragedy » Alberta father and daughter found slain; suspect in custody Mercedes Deutscher News Editor © news@theotherpress.ca n September 14, midday, an Amber Alert was issued in Alberta, BC, Saskatchewan, and Montana after Hailey Dunbar- Blanchette, 2, was discovered missing from her father’s home in southwestern Alberta. RCMP arrived at Terry Blanchette’s residence that day at 11a.m. after a family member called them after arriving at the residence. The body of Blanchette, 27, was discovered on scene, but his daughter was absent. After receiving statements from neighbours and : family, the RCMP found out that : a white van had sped away from : the property at 3:30 a.m. that morning. Later that day, Derek Saretzky, 22, was detained by police for questioning. The Amber Alert stayed in place for 32 hours while the RCMP continued their search, until it ceased at 9 p.m. on September 15. At 10 p.m. the same night, the RCMP that they had discovered the : remains of Dunbar-Blanchette. Saretzky was arrested : the following morning on two : charges of first-degree murder, : as well as one count of indignity : : to a body. The accused had : had previous altercations with announced in a press conference : authorities before, the most : recent being a breaking-and- : entering charge in August. In 2012 and 2013, Saretzky had : been charged with theft and : stolen property charges. Shortly after Saretzky’s arrest, Cheyenne Dunbar, : Dunbar-Blanchette’s mother, : spoke to the media. “She was my baby; I don’t know why anybody would do : this to her,” Dunbar woefully : told CBC. “I'm going to miss : absolutely everything. I’m going : : to miss her smile, the way she : ran around saying ‘Mommy’— : everything.” Dunbar and Blanchette : were separated, but shared : custody of their daughter on : a bi-weekly basis. Dunbar was : preparing for her daughter's Image via CBC : arrival when she heard that : her daughter was missing via : Facebook. Dunbar described : her relationship with Blanchette : asacivil one, where they both : maintained good contact and : shared photos of their daughter : with each other. “Terry was an awesome father,” she said to CBC. “He : did everything he could for that : little girl.” Dunbar had previously : been friends with Saretzky, : the accused, although she says : that they haven't talked to each : other in three years. Dunbar : maintains that her relationship : to Saretzky was never romantic, : but strictly platonic. Saretzky : was also acquainted with : Blanchette. Canadians held vigils : across the country in tribute : of Dunbar-Blanchette and her : father, and a Facebook group, “In Memory of Hailey Dunbar- : Blanchette,” emerged to allow : Canadians to plan vigils and : show their support for the : families of the deceased. A : public memorial was held for : the father and daughter in : Calgary on September 19.