Man Arrested After Bomb Threat at Gainesville High School

A bomb threat reported by phone prompted a lockdown at Gainesville High School on November 12, as police and school staff moved to protect students and employees. Officers searched the campus and found no explosives. Police dogs from several Georgia counties also took part in the sweep, one account said.

Investigators traced the 911 call to Carlos Arevalo, 58, of Flowery Branch, using a comparison of the call recording with video from an earlier Hall County case involving him. Police said they determined the threat likely came from a local caller and was probably not generated by artificial intelligence.

Gainesville police, Hall County sheriff’s deputies and FBI agents went to Arevalo’s home with a search warrant Thursday evening. Officers saw him on a rear deck with a firearm, then negotiated with him until he came out the front entrance and was taken into custody, police said.

Police believe Arevalo may have had grievances with the government and was seeking a response from law enforcement. They said he was not believed to have a connection to the school. Authorities have not disclosed the charges he faces. The investigation continues, and police said the school campus was clear for students to return Friday. The threat was at least the third involving a metro Atlanta school that week.