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Officials charge inmate accused of making threats against Alexander Co. schools in letter

By Dave Faherty, wsoctv.com
By Dave Faherty, wsoctv.com

ALEXANDER COUNTY, N.C. — The Alexander County Sheriff's Office has identified a suspect who deputies said was involved in making threats of violence against local schools.

(Sadarius Douglas) 

Inmate Sadarius Douglas is charged with three counts of making a threat of mass violence on educational property.

State and local officials began their investigation after a letter was sent from an inmate to Inmate and Legal Services in Raleigh threatening violence against local schools.

Deputies said the inmate threatened to blow up three schools near the prison in late December.

Authorities said the State Bureau of Investigations assisted with the investigation.

[ALSO READ: 2 North Carolina prison guards hurt in attack by inmate]

The problem investigators initially had was identifying the inmate responsible for the letter.

Officials said there are 1,100 inmates at the Alexander Correctional Institution.

The sheriff confirmed the letter had an inmate's name on it, but authorities initially did not know if the letter came from him.

Investigators said they delivered the letter to the SBI lab in Raleigh to have it tested for DNA.

Under North Carolina law, the state requires inmates convicted of felonies and certain types of misdemeanors to submit a DNA blood sample.

Deputies confirmed it was DNA off the letter that linked it to Douglas. But, Douglas told Channel 9 he is not responsible even though he admits it is his DNA.

“I put the stamp on it, and I sealed it,” Douglas said.

The sheriff said Douglas put another inmate's name on the letter in the hopes of having him moved out of the prison.

“They were trying to get this other individual moved out, so they could get moved into his spot. It was like an easy job," Sheriff Chris Bowman said.

Investigators believe the incident may have been the result of a "turf war" inside the prison.

Douglas was in prison for statutory rape and indecent liberties against a child. His original release date was 2022. Deputies believe this new arrest could lead to more prison time.

Alexander County School District officials said they alerted parents across the county by phone of the initial threat.

[ALSO READ: Prison chief says inmate riot was over money, territory, contraband]

Channel 9 confirmed both police in Taylorsville and deputies increased security around schools in the area after alerting parents.

There was no indication which schools may be involved.

"I was scared. Because I was going to the school already to get my kids and I was kind of scared," mother Jennifer Rumple said.

"It's scary. It's terrifying, but with the call and knowing the law enforcement agencies were on it, I felt comfortable," Marloulis said.

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