A homeless man caused tension and fear Thursday afternoon at Creekview Ranch Middle School, prompting classrooms to be locked down and a fast response from the Placer County Sheriff’s Department.

According to Sheriff's Department spokeswoman Dena Erwin, the incident began around 3:40 p.m. when 61-year-old Reiner Poppenga wandered onto the campus, behaving strangely. Poppenga is a known transient who frequents the city of Roseville.

Erwin said that when the school principal confronted Poppenga, the transient held up a small object in his hand and made gestures as if he had a handgun.

“He said he was going to kill the principal,” Erwin reported. “The principal directed the staff to place the school on lockdown.”

Erwin added that although school had ended, a number of students were still on the campus.

Sheriff’s deputies and Roseville police officers rushed to the scene. At that point Poppenga, who had made his way into a nearby creek, engaged in a struggle with law enforcement. The transient was arrested on charges of making criminal threats and resisting arrest. His bail was set at $25,000.