PRESTON, Idaho — The Latest on turtle eats puppy (all times local):
12:15 p.m.
Idaho officials have euthanized a snapping turtle at the center of an investigation over whether a biology teacher gave it a sick puppy to eat in front of students.
The Idaho State Department of Agriculture in a statement Friday says snapping turtles are an invasive species in Idaho requiring a permit. Officials seized the turtle Thursday.
Meanwhile, law enforcement officials say they stepped up security for three schools in the Preston School District in eastern Idaho this week following vague threats connected to an allegation that the puppy was fed to the turtle March 7 at the junior high school.
There was no school Friday but Preston Police Chief Mike Peterson says officers may return Monday.
Two parents have said the teacher fed the turtle a sick puppy. The teacher has not been named.
A prosecutor is investigating.
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10:50 a.m.
Threats have been made to an Idaho school where a biology teacher is suspected of feeding a puppy to a snapping turtle and police in response stepped up school security.
Police Chief Mike Peterson in the small, southeastern town of Preston said Friday the threats were vague but connected to the allegation that the puppy was fed to the turtle March 7 at the junior high school in front of students.
Officers were posted outside the town’s schools this week.
There was no school Friday but Peterson said officers may return Monday.
Two parents have said the teacher fed the turtle a sick puppy. The teacher has not been named.
A prosecutor is investigating and Idaho officials seized the turtle Thursday, saying it’s an exotic species requiring a permit.
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These items have been corrected to show alleged incident occurred on March 7, not March 8.
