On August 27, 2024, the Ida County Communications Center received a call at 2:49 p.m. about a possible threat towards a school building in Ida County.

The FBI (Federal Bureau Investigation) had received, and passed on to the Sheriff's Office, a post from a social media platform that showed a female holding what appeared to be a rifle standing in the vicinity of Ridge View High School in Holstein, Iowa. At the bottom of the photo was a written threat about the person possibly becoming the next school shooter.

Deputies were immediately dispatched to Ridge View High School where a search of the school grounds was conducted. Sheriff's Office staff was in constant communication with Ridge View Administrators throughout the incident.

The Ida County Sheriff's Office was able to quickly identify the female in the post and with the assistance of the Lake View Police Department; she was located in Lake View, Iowa and transported to the Ida County Sheriff's Office where she was interviewed.

At the conclusion of the interview the Sheriff's Office arrested Maria Luisa Mendoza, 21 of Lake View, Iowa. She was charged with one count of threat of terrorism, a class D felony. She was booked into the Ida County jail.

During the course of the investigation, the Sheriff's Office determined that there was no immediate credible threat towards Ridge View School or any specific individual or group of students.

The Ida County Sheriff's Office was assisted in the investigation by the Federal of Bureau of Investigation; The Lake View Police Department; the Ida County Attorney's Office and Ridge View Schools.

WADE A. HARRIMAN

IDA COUNTY SHERIFF