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Man charged with threat of terrorism after bomb scare at Utah elementary school

Posted at 4:17 PM, Sep 23, 2016
and last updated 2016-09-23 18:29:09-04

EAGLE MOUNTAIN, Utah — Formal charges were filed Friday against a man who forced evacuations at Eagle Mountain Elementary Monday by claiming he had bombs in his car.

According to charging documents, 35-year-old Christopher Dewitt Craig is charged with threat of terrorism, interference with arresting officers, failure to disclose identity, disorderly conduct and disrupting operations of a school.

Police responded to Eagle Mountain Elementary School after receiving threats indicating Craig was at the school in his vehicle and with bombs in the trunk.  The school was put on lockdown and subsequently evacuated.

Craig initially told police his name was Mohammed, and when police attempted to question him about his true name his only response was “patience.” Craig continually told deputies to leave the scene, insisting he had explosives in his vehicle.

He only surrendered after police led him to believe that a message he had prepared was delivered to the media. After being read his rights, Craig declined to answer questions and all he gave police, “was a written statement making racist remarks,” according to charging documents.

A search of his vehicle and his home did not yield any explosives.

Craig was booked into the Utah County Jail after his arrest. Sgt. Spencer Cannon of the Utah County Sheriff’s Office stated Friday that a judge has ordered that Craig be held without bail pending further proceedings.