Police: Belleville teen charged with arson for causing Chromebook to smolder as part of TikTok challenge
Belleville police say the fire department responded to Belleville High School around 9:15 a.m. Thursday for reports of a fire.
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A 15-year-old from Belleville is facing charges for causing their Chromebook computer to smolder, causing a fire hazard.
Officials say that this type of incident was made popular as a challenge on the social media app TikTok.
Belleville police say the fire department responded to Belleville High School around 9:15 a.m. Thursday for reports of a fire. The school was evacuated as a precaution.
Police say that first responders found a charred Chromebook outside of the school near one of the classrooms. They say that the investigation revealed that a student “intentionally manipulated the device as part of a social media challenge.”
The teen was charged with third-degree arson and criminal mischief.
“The Belleville Police and Fire Departments strongly urge parents and guardians to speak with their children about the dangers of participating in online trends that can result in serious harm or criminal charges. These actions not only endanger the individual involved but also put the safety of others at risk,” officials wrote.
