McMINNVILLE, Ore. -- A school prank in which calls flooded the phone lines at the Media Arts and Communication Academy in McMinnville is being considered a crime by the police department.

Capt. Dennis Marks, of the McMinnville Police Department, said the person responsible used a device to make several phone calls to the school at the same time.

"There is a concern for a prank like this because there could be a more serious crime involving computers," Marks said.

School district officials said there was never a time where all phone lines were tied up and they never considered it a threat to students. But police are treating the incident of telephonic harassment seriously.

"I would classify it a crime," Marks said. "The person doing it might consider it a prank, but it's a criminal act."

Someone using the name Snuffy Xavier made a post on the school's Facebook page and claimed responsibility for the calls. Officers believe it could be a student.

Some students at the school sent e-mails to the FOX 12 newsroom expressing concern about the incident. McMinnville residents shared their concerns.

"You don't intrude on phone systems and things like that," said Sherri Cameron, who was concerned about the prank.

Police said a school resource officer is following up on several leads in the case. Anyone with information is asked to call McMinnville police.