Arnold evacuated after bomb threat [with audio]

PANAMA CITY BEACH — Parents and students at Arnold High School had a scare Tuesday as threats of multiple bombs on the campus and a planned assault on students led to a temporary lockdown.

Law enforcement and school officials put Arnold High, 550 Alf Coleman Road, on lockdown about 12:30 p.m. after a still unidentified person called in the threat. Hundreds of students were evacuated to the nearby stadium as the bomb squad scoured the campus. After more than an hour with nearby Breakfast Point Academy also on lockdown, authorities determined the threat was unfounded and gave an all clear for students to return to class and parents to pick up their children.

No arrests have been announced, but the Panama City Beach Police Department has released audio of the threat from the 911 call.

“I left some bombs at my high school, and they are going to blow up in 15 minutes,” the caller, who sounds like a male, stated. “There’s more than one. I kind of distributed them around the campus and they’re going to blow up in a few minutes.”

The caller then claims the bombs are made out of dynamite because his father works with dynamite. He also says he and a group of friends are armed on the campus and intend to go after fellow students.

“I’m upset with some people,” the caller states. “They got me mad so now they’re going to pay for it.”

As the caller hung up, officials began to evacuate students and numerous officers descended on the campus to sweep for explosive devices.

Students and parents had begun amassing at a nearby bank shortly after officials announced the bomb threat and police blocked off the section of Alf Coleman Road north of Back Beach Road (U.S. 98).

Lorri Holland, a parent of a pre-kindergarten child, had arrived just before 1 p.m. to pick up her son when she was greeted by the roadblock. She said she’d already had a panic attack when she was turned away from the school and was still crying as she waited.

“I know my kid is OK," Holland said. “I’m just freaking out because I can’t get to him. If something did happen, at least I’d have him with me.”

Holland said she felt powerless. Several other parents shuffling their feet in the grass and staring intently at the roadblock echoed the sentiment.

Alina Rotari, mother of another pre-K child and a resident in the nearby Breakfast Point neighborhood, likewise was stuck waiting for the children to be evacuated from the campus.

“I stopped and begged the police to let me go pick up my child and go home,” Rotari said. “It’s terrifying. I’m so scared.”

Shortly before 2 p.m., law enforcement and school officials called off the lockdown. It was unclear as of Tuesday at press time whether a suspect had been identified or taken into custody.

“No explosive devices were located and the school was deemed safe for students to return,” officers wrote in a news release. “The investigation is ongoing.”

In a statement, Bay District School Superintendent Bill Husfelt praised the action of law enforcement and the patience of parents and students during the ordeal.

"Student safety is our No. 1 priority, so we take threats against our campuses extremely seriously,” Husfelt said. “We appreciate the immediate response of law enforcement, the cooperation and understanding of our parents and the expertise of our faculty and staff when these situations arise. No one wants to deal with something like this, but I am relieved that everything is resolved and that our students, faculty and staff continue to be safe."