Suspect arrested after school bomb threat

KOLOA — A Hanama‘ulu man was arrested Monday after phoning in a bomb threat to Koloa School, the Kaua‘i Police Department reported Monday.

Police say 20-year-old Lopaka Santos called the school administration, claiming that a bomb would go off at the end of the school day.

No bombs or explosives were found, and no injuries were reported.

The Kaua‘i Police Department Bomb Squad, American Medical Response and the Kaua‘i Fire Department responded to the incident.

According to a preliminary report, the school administration received the threat at 12:06 p.m. Monday, after which the school was evacuated.

Members of the KPD Patrol Services Bureau arrived at the school and began to work with administration to check for devices in the area. KPD personnel assisted with the evacuation of students to a safe location away from the area.

After a full sweep of the campus, no devices were found and officers cleared the school of any threats.

Additional evidence led officers to identify, locate and arrest Santos Monday afternoon.

Santos was arrested on suspicion of terroristic threatening in the first degree, and Monday was held KPD’s Lihu‘e headquarters as the investigation continues.

State libraries were also closed Monday due to an unspecified threat. The Office of the State Librarian reported Monday that the library has been working with local law enforcement to determine when it is safe to reopen branches.
Source: The Garden Island