Hoax bomb threat at East Olympia Elementary

A 10-year-old boy was being questioned by sheriff's deputies Monday morning after he apparently left a hoax bomb threat on the grounds of East Olympia Elementary School in the 8700 block of Rich Road about 8:15 a.m.

"It appears to be an attempt to avoid schoolwork," Thurston County Sheriff's Lt. Greg Elwin said of the 10-year-old's bomb threat, left in a note on school grounds.

Elwin said the sheriff's office deployed a large portion of its resources after school staff discovered the note in a classroom Monday morning. The note simply said that a bomb would blow up at 9:01 a.m., Elwin said.

The sheriff's office diverted buses headed to the elementary school with students Monday morning. The staff and students that were already there were evacuated, he said.

"Any threat to our schools is going to garner a significant school response," Elwin said.

An educator apparently recognized the writing on the note as being the penmanship of the 10-year-old boy, Elwin said. The boy was being questioned by sheriff's deputies Monday morning, but he had not been placed under arrest, Elwin said.

Elwin said that ultimately, the investigation will be forwarded to the Thurston County juvenile prosecutors.

Jeremy Pawloski: 360-754-5445 jpawloski@theolympian.com