Teen Charged With Arson in TikTok Challenge

A Belleville High School student has been charged with arson after allegedly causing a Chromebook laptop to catch fire as part of a dangerous social media trend known as the “Chromebook Challenge,” authorities announced Thursday.

The incident prompted an evacuation of the school and has sparked warnings from police and fire officials about the serious dangers of participating in such online trends.

Source: NJBreakingNews.com

Fire Prompted School Evacuation

According to police, the Belleville Fire Department responded to Belleville High School at approximately 9:15 a.m. Thursday after receiving reports of a fire in a classroom. The school building was evacuated as a precautionary measure while first responders assessed the situation, according to News 12 New Jersey.

Responders discovered a charred Chromebook laptop outside the school near one of the classrooms. Investigation revealed that a staff member had noticed the device emitting smoke and quickly removed it from the classroom while helping to evacuate students and faculty.

TikTok Trend Involves Dangerous Tampering

Police say their investigation revealed that the teen “intentionally manipulated the device as part of a social media challenge” circulating on TikTok. The dangerous trend involves students jamming metal objects such as paper clips, mechanical pencil lead, or other conductive materials into USB ports or charging ports of Chromebook laptops, causing them to short-circuit and potentially catch fire, according to ABC 7 New York.

Authorities believe the 15-year-old student intentionally put the lead from a mechanical pencil into one of the laptop ports as part of the challenge, causing it to begin smoking and eventually smoldering.

Serious Criminal Charges Filed

The teenager, whose name has not been released due to their age, has been charged with third-degree arson and criminal mischief. These charges carry potentially serious consequences in the juvenile justice system.

“These actions not only endanger the individual involved but also put the safety of others at risk,” police said in a statement. “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.”

Source: NJBreakingNews.com

Nationwide Problem with Growing Concerns

The incident in Belleville is not isolated, as similar incidents have been reported in schools across the country. In Ohio, a 15-year-old was recently arrested and charged with both arson and vandalism for participating in the same challenge, and school districts in Maryland have reported up to 10 incidents related to the dangerous trend, according to NBC News.

TikTok has reportedly taken action to block search terms related to the challenge, but authorities remain concerned about the spread of the dangerous activity through other channels.

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