Crime & Safety

UPDATED: San Rafael School Reopens After Bomb Threat, Evacuation

The bomb threat at Venetia Valley K-8 school was the second bomb threat in Marin in the last four days.

 

Update 11:24 a.m. Tuesday: Venetia Valley School in Santa Venetia reopened at approximately 10:45 a.m. Tuesday after the San Rafael Police Department, California Highway Patrol and San Francisco Police Department explosive canine unit thoroughly searched the school twice and didn’t find any explosives.

The school, located at 177 N. San Pedro Road, was evacuated Tuesday morning at 7:45 a.m. after officials received a bomb threat left on an answering machine. 

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There were approximately 200 children and school personnel at the school when they were evacuated. 

Students and staff were directed to the San Rafael National Guard Armory at 153 Madison Ave., where there was food and water available, as well as teaching materials.

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As of 9:45 a.m., a bomb squad was searching the campus for any suspicious devices, according to Marin County Sheriff's Department Lt. Keith Boyd said.

Despite discouragement, some parents picked up students during the
evacuation. Remaining students were escorted back to the school where classes
resumed, according to Theresa Allyn, executive assistant to the San Rafael
City Schools superintendent.

The threat was isolated to the school. Nearby businesses, homes and other buildings were not affected, according to Boyd.

It’s unknown who left the bomb threat message. The Marin County Sheriff’s Office Investigation’s Division is currently working with school officials to determine the source of the phone message.

Earlier this week, several businesses in the Bon Air Shopping Center in Greenbrae were evacuated after a bank robbery suspect said a bomb was going to explode, according to the Marin Independent Journal

Roughly an hour after the Saturday robbery, San Rafael resident Thomas Hobson, 51, was arrested in Greenbrae on suspicion of robbery, burglary, threatening a crime to terrorize and placing a false bomb, according to the IJ

 

Persons wishing to give crime tips are encouraged to call the sheriff’s office at 415-479-2311. To remain anonymous and possibly become eligible for a cash reward call Bay Area Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS.

 

—Bay City News contributed to this report

 

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