Christopher Ryan, 42, made threats against Half Hollow Hills High School East, police say

Suffolk County police said they arrested a Patchogue man for threatening to shoot or blow up Half Hollow Hills High School East in Dix Hills.

District officials said threats were made by a parent, but no specific threat was referenced last weekend. They also said the threats were directed at an administrator in the central office.

Half Hollow Hills Central School District officials said a parent in the district left several threatening messages this past weekend at the district’s central administrator offices. Threats were made toward the administrator and other district employees, Superintendent Patrick Harrigan said. District officials said threats were not made against a school. 

The district reported the calls to police and was assisting in the investigation Harrigan said.

Police said Thursday they were investigating a call on Tuesday threatening to shoot and blow up the high school. On Thursday, police arrested Christopher Ryan, 42, at 3:40 p.m. near his Patchogue home.

He was charged with misdemeanor making a threat of mass harm. He is scheduled to be arraigned Friday in First District Court in Central Islip.

The district banned Ryan from its properties and school events.

“The district takes threats of any kind very seriously and thanks the Suffolk County Police Department for helping to ensure the safety and security of our employees and students,” Harrigan said.

Correction: In an earlier version of this story, police misidentified the man arrested.

By John Asbury

john.asbury@newsday.comJohnAsbury

John Asbury is a breaking news and general assignment reporter. He has been with Newsday since 2014 and previously worked at The Press-Enterprise in Riverside, California.