Transient Arrested After Allegedly Threatening Principal

A Roseville-area middle school was placed on lockdown after a transient threatened to kill the principal Thursday afternoon, authorities say.

Reiner Gae Poppenga, 61, was arrested Thursday after the Placer County Sheriff's Department says he walked on to the campus of Creekview Ranch Middle School around 3:40 p.m. and "when confronted by the principal, pointed an object that he held like a handgun and said he was going to kill the principal."

The school was placed on lockdown; although school had let out already, some students were still on campus for after-school activities.

Poppenga was found in a nearby creek bed, according to a press release from the sheriff's department. He fought with deputies when they tried to arrest him, the press release states.

He was booked on charges of making criminal threats and resisting arrest. His bail is currently set at $25,000.

School officials informed parents of the incident late Thursday. An email sent by Dry Creek Joint Elementary School District Deputy Superintendent Brad Tooker sought to reassure parents:

"No weapons weree involved and at no time were any students in danger," Tooker wrote.

--

Stay Patched in! Follow Roseville Patch on Twitter | Like Roseville Patch on Facebook | Sign up for the daily email with links to the latest news.