Port Angeles High School faculty and staff wait by the tennis courts on campus for further instructions after students were evacuated from the building on Tuesday. (Ken Park/Peninsula Daily News)

Port Angeles High School faculty and staff wait by the tennis courts on campus for further instructions after students were evacuated from the building on Tuesday. (Ken Park/Peninsula Daily News)

No explosive device found in Port Angeles High School

Few details released about bomb threat

PORT ANGELES — The State Patrol Bomb Squad found no explosive devices on the Port Angeles High School campus after it was evacuated Tuesday due to a bomb threat.

The threat was phoned into the high school at 9:51 a.m. and deemed to be a credible threat by the Port Angeles Police Department and the school staff, so they evacuated the campus.

“I do have details about what the person said and the circumstances surrounding the call, but it’s too early in the investigation to say more,” said Jason Viada, Port Angeles deputy chief.

“The threat was credible enough to evacuate the campus, and that was absolutely the right decision.”

The school district reported on its website Tuesday morning that it had closed its campus for investigation.

There were 1,000 students on campus and 122 staff members. Many students were loaded onto buses to be taken home, while others left in their own vehicles or were picked up by parents at the intersection of Peabody Street and Park Avenue.

Once students were completely evacuated from the campus, PAPD put in a call to the State Patrol Bomb Squad, which arrived on the scene at about 1 p.m.

The squad searched the school with the assistance of police dogs. The search concluded at about 2:20 p.m., and no explosive devices were found.

The investigation has been turned over to detectives with the PAPD.

This is the second time the high school has been threatened with violence this year. In April, a threat was spray-painted on the walls of the boys bathroom and included a racial slur.

At this time, there is no known connection to the two events.

“You are not the first to bring that up. It’s too early in the investigation to discuss any connection of these events,” Viada said.

Both the Port Angeles School District and the PAPD will provide further updates to the investigation as it unfolds.

________

Reporter Ken Park can be reached by email at kpark@peninsuladailynews.com.

More in News

Cheri Sanford of Port Angeles, right, hands a piece of metal debris to her grandson, Damien Millet, 9, after it was located with a metal detector and dug from the sand at Hollywood Beach in Port Angeles on Wednesday. They were combing the beach in search of whatever hidden treasures they could find. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
Beach combing

Cheri Sanford of Port Angeles, right, hands a piece of metal debris… Continue reading

Six Peninsula school measures passing

Sequim voters approve bond, levy

Port Townsend, Chimacum pass school levies

Funds will support facilities, supplies, transportation

Counties can collect up to $1.80 of property tax per $1,000 of assessed value, but they are only allowed to increase their property tax collection amount by 1 percent each year, excluding new construction, without voter approval.
Clallam already eyeing 2026 cuts

If county can’t raise revenue, it may cut employees, services

Port Angeles School Board to conduct community conversation

Port Angeles School Board members will be available to… Continue reading

After-school art program returns to Stevens Middle School

Let’s Make Art, a free after-school program at Stevens… Continue reading

Department of Licensing offices to be closed

PORT ANGELES – The Department of Licensing office of the Clallam County… Continue reading

Voters approving all Peninsula school measures

Sequim bond passing with required supermajority

KEITH THORPE/PENINSULA DAILY NEWS
Clallam County election workers Neva Miller, right, and Debbie Kracht, both of Sequim, open election ballots on Tuesday at the courthouse in Port Angeles.
Ballot sorting in Port Angeles

Clallam County election workers Neva Miller, right, and Debbie Kracht, both of… Continue reading

Jefferson County board to select interim sheriff

Chosen candidate will serve until next election

State funding challenges dominate legislative conversations

Multiple bills may have local relevance

PA’s Platypus Marine looks to expansion

Growth benefits local economy