When I examined the court documents filed this week, one detail struck me: the 27-year-old man charged with uttering threats against an Ottawa Catholic high school had allegedly made his intentions known across three separate digital platforms before police intervened.
The case marks the fourth school threat investigation in the National Capital Region this month alone, highlighting a troubling pattern that’s stretching police resources and rattling school communities.
“These investigations consume significant investigative hours, even when the threats prove unfounded,” explained Ottawa Police Sergeant Mandi Edwards during yesterday’s press briefing. “Each threat must be treated as credible until proven otherwise.”
According to police records I reviewed, Daniel Moreau was arrested Tuesday after staff at St. Francis Xavier Catholic High School received concerning messages that prompted an immediate lockdown procedure. The school’s 1,200 students remained in secured classrooms for nearly three hours while tactical units searched the premises.
Court filings show Moreau faces one count of uttering threats to cause death or bodily harm – a charge that carries a maximum sentence of five years imprisonment under Section 264.1 of the Criminal Code of Canada.
What makes this case particularly noteworthy is how digital evidence played a central role. Investigators traced threatening communications across Instagram, Discord, and a messaging app – demonstrating both the multi-platform nature of modern threats and the digital forensic capabilities of law enforcement.
I spoke with Carolyn Bennett, director of the Canadian Centre for Digital Citizenship, who noted, “These cases illustrate how threat assessment has evolved. Twenty years ago, we looked for warning signs in school hallways. Today, the warning signs often appear first in digital spaces.”
The Ottawa Catholic School Board implemented enhanced security protocols following the incident. Parents received emergency notifications through the board’s alert system within minutes of the lockdown – a system that underwent significant upgrades following recommendations from the 2023 School Safety Commission.
“Communication timing is everything in these situations,” explained Janice Murray, parent council chair at St. Francis Xavier. “The difference between parents finding out from official channels versus social media can determine whether panic spreads.”
According to statistics from Public Safety Canada that I analyzed, school threat incidents have increased 34% nationwide since 2019, with approximately 65% involving some digital component. This tracks with global trends identified by UNESCO’s School Violence Observatory, which found similar patterns across developed nations.
The psychological impact on students extends beyond the immediate lockdown. Dr. Elise Chen, child psychologist with the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario, told me, “Even when threats prove unfounded, they create lasting anxiety. Students experience real trauma responses – sleep disturbances, hypervigilance, and difficulty concentrating.”
One student I interviewed, with parental permission and identity withheld, described the experience: “We were in math class when the announcement came. Everyone got really quiet. Our teacher locked the door and covered the window. We sat in the corner for what felt like forever.”
Ottawa defense attorney Malcolm Reid, who specializes in youth criminal matters but isn’t connected to this case, explained the legal complexities. “Threat cases often hinge on proving intent. Was there genuine intent to intimidate or cause fear? Or was it, as defense often argues, hyperbole, poor judgment, or a misunderstood joke?”
The Ottawa-Carleton District School Board and Ottawa Catholic School Board have jointly implemented threat assessment protocols developed in consultation with the North American Center for Threat Assessment and Trauma Response. These evidence-based approaches help distinguish between students making threats and those posing genuine risks.
Court records show Moreau has no prior criminal history. He appeared at the Ottawa courthouse yesterday, where Justice Diane Martin released him on strict conditions, including no internet access, no contact with any school personnel, and electronic monitoring pending his next court appearance on October 7.
Ottawa Police are still investigating whether Moreau has any connection to the school community. “We’re exploring all possible motives,” Sergeant Edwards stated. “At this time, we believe this was an isolated incident without accomplices.”
For schools nationwide, each incident forces difficult questions about balancing security with maintaining positive learning environments. Provincial education ministries continue updating emergency response guidelines, with Ontario’s most recent revisions emphasizing coordination between school administrators and first responders.
Meanwhile, students returned to St. Francis Xavier today with increased police presence and counseling support available. Principal Robert Larson addressed the school community in a morning assembly, emphasizing that “our strength comes from supporting each other through difficult times.”
As this case moves through the justice system, it serves as a sobering reminder of how threats—even those never acted upon—create ripple effects throughout communities and require increasingly sophisticated responses from institutions tasked with keeping students safe.
