Police: Former coach threatened to bomb elementary school

EAGLE MOUNTAIN, UT (KTRK) -- Tearful children were reunited with parents after a three-hour standoff between police and a man claiming to have bombs at an elementary school.

Christopher Craig, a former basketball coach, was taken into custody after police say he made his bomb threat in person at Eagle Valley Elementary School in Utah, calling in the threat to 911 dispatchers and sending emails to media outlets in the area.

Around 2:13pm Monday, Craig allegedly called 911 and claimed the school should be evacuated because he had explosives in the trunk of his car, KUTV-TV reports.

Craig pulled his car against the front entrance of the school and popped the trunk, allegedly threatening to arm his bombs. Police say he also advised officers to keep their distance from the school.

KUTV reports they and other news outlets received an email just after 2am threatening the school.

The district says around 250 students were present when Craig entered the school and told staff to evacuate the campus.

School officials say the staff put the school on lockdown and then took students to two designated evacuation areas, but some students were left inside the building when they did not hear the evacuation order.

Students were able to reunite with family after 5:30am, when Craig was arrested.

Before he would allow police to take him into custody, Craig allegedly requested to share a verbal message. We are not aware what that message contained.

The Utah Valley Metro Bomb Squad did not find any explosives or threatening devices in his vehicle, and Craig was not armed with any weapons.

Officials say he is known to have mental health issues, but were unaware if he was being treated currently.

Craig is charged on threats of terrorism, a second-degree felony, interference with an arresting officer, failure to disclose his identity, disruptive operation of a school and disorderly conduct.