Yankton Woman Confesses To Calling In Bomb Threat

A Yankton woman confessed to calling in a bomb threat at the Creighton Public School last week and later turned herself in.

Christi Johnson, 34, admitted to making Wednesday’s threat, which forced the entire student body and staff to evacuate the facility. 

Creighton Police Chief Mark Duncan said school administration notified police of the bomb threat at approximately 1:20 p.m. 

Although the threat was deemed “fairly generic” it warranted action, he said.

The Creighton Public School ordered a complete evacuation, which included all students and staff being relocated to the nearby Faith, Hope, and Love Church. The church was used as a reunification site for students and parents.

St. Ludger’s Catholic School was also notified of the potential threat, Duncan said.

“Due to the fact that the call was received at the public school, but a specific school wasn’t stated, St. Ludger’s evacuated their staff and students to the Creighton Fire Department,” he said.

Both schools were cleared — first with an initial sweep by local law enforcement personnel — and then by the Nebraska State Patrol’s bomb detection K9 for extra precautionary measures.

The Creighton Fire Department blocked roads and helped students reunify with their parents after the evacuation.

Just hours after students were allowed back into the school to retrieve their belongings, police had a potential suspect.  

Johnson was interviewed by the Creighton Police Department at approximately 12:15 a.m. Thursday and confessed to authorities, Duncan said. She was not immediately arrested as other investigations were being conducted in relation to the case. The police chief said Johnson was cooperating with law enforcement at that time.

On Saturday night, the Creighton Police Department announced that the suspect had turned herself in at the Knox County Jail.

Johnson has been charged with false reporting, a Class I misdemeanor, which is punishable by up to one year in jail, a $1,000 fine or both. She is scheduled to be arraigned in Knox County Court on Sept. 23 at 9 a.m.​