By Pepper Fisher
PORT ANGELES – Port Angeles High School was evacuated Tuesday morning following a bomb threat.
Port Angeles Deputy Police Chief Jason Viada called in this report at 11:30 am.
What I can tell you is, at about 9:51 this morning we received a call regarding a bomb threat at the high school, and the information that we received was specific enough and credible enough that the school made the decision to evacuate the high school. And we certainly agree that that was absolutely the right decision to make. There’s a couple of different parts of this response, and one is ensuring that everybody is safely off of the high school campus and keeping the campus cordoned off so that are partners with WSP bomb squad can come in and either ensure that there is not a device, or locate the device if there is one and render it safe. So, that’s where we’re at in the investigation right now. And then, of course, detectives will also be involved in the follow-up investigation.”
Police Corporal Ordona told KONP earlier that the caller told school officials there was a bomb in the library and they had 21 minutes to get out.
By 2:30 this afternoon Viada called back with the following report.
“This afternoon at about 2:20 p.m the WSP bomb squad, assisted by their bomb canine units, completed their search of the Port Angeles High School campus and, during that search, no device was found. So right now Patrol units are clearing the scene and the case has been turned over to detectives for further follow-up investigation.”
School District spokesperson Carmen Geyer tells us the plan for this evening and tomorrow.
“Students can return to campus tomorrow. School will resume as usual. Students and parents are able to come back to campus this evening from 4:30 to 6:30 to retrieve any items such as keys or cell phones that need to be picked up. We ask that you please only visit campus if you have an urgent need to retrieve those items that can’t wait until tomorrow. Teachers will be available tomorrow from 8:15 to 8:45 a.m to retrieve those items as well.”