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Staff applauded for notifying police, evacuating kids during suspected school bomb threat

Posted at 11:00 PM, Sep 20, 2016
and last updated 2016-09-21 01:00:39-04

EAGLE MOUNTAIN, Utah - On Tuesday, neighbors share their thoughts on Christopher Craig, a man who police say made bomb threats at a local elementary school in Eagle Mountain Monday afternoon.

Craig, 35, was arrested Monday after making bomb threats at Eagle Valley Elementary, according to authorities.

An Eagle Mountain resident, one of Craig’s neighbor’s said, she was shocked when she saw what happened.

“Super friendly, fun to talk to,” said neighbor Desaree Thornton as she described Craig. “He loved the kids all of the time playing with the kids.”

Attempts to contact the Craig family were unsuccessful.

School and police officials continue to applaud the efforts of those involved in evacuating and alerting authorities to Monday’s incident. One individual the district recognized was the school secretary.

When Craig pulled up to the building, Kimberly Bird assistant to the superintendent for Alpine School District said, he got out of his car wearing a mask.

“The secretary was able to see him and immediately dialed 911,” Bird said.

Bird said as Craig walked in the front door the secretary confronted him face-to-face.

Craig allegedly said, ‘let the students go and no one gets hurt,’ claiming he had a bomb in his car. Bird said Craig then stepped outside to take a look around.

At that point, Bird said, the secretary immediately locked the school doors so he stayed outside.

With Craig locked out, police swarmed in from the ground and sky. Teachers led students out a backdoor entrance to safety.

“Some of the magic of all of this is the faculty had actually practiced an evacuation drill the week prior,” Bird said.

After an hours-long standoff, Craig surrendered to authorities. No bombs were found.