WASHINGTON — A local man took to Facebook and threatened to hurt police, children and emergency workers.

Now James Ross Willoughby is being held for a mental evaluation after he was taken into custody late Monday afternoon.

Although the threat was vague, Warrenton Police Chief Louis Battle says his officers have taken the threat very seriously.

Chief Battle says police were tipped off about the postings by a person who knows Willoughby. Also, he says, “we’ve been advised that there’s been an email from the school board that said there was a specific threat against Warrenton Middle School, Taylor Middle School and Fauquier High School. That is not case.”

Willoughby graduated from Fauquier High School.

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