DENVER — The FBI is trying to track down the person responsible for terrorizing students across Colorado on Wednesday.
Police said someone threatened a shooting at nearly 20 schools. All of the threats were fake.
Investigators haven't found the caller yet, but history shows it can be done.
In June 2019, a man told Fort Collins police there were "three petrol bombs in his house." Twelve officers responded to the area, according to court documents. Investigators told residents to shelter in a basement if possible, lock doors and windows, and remain inside their homes.
The arrest affidavit says the threat was unfounded, and the suspect admitted to drinking vodka that day.
The suspect denied calling dispatch or making any statements about a bomb, according to the affidavit. The suspect was arrested for False Reporting of Explosives, a felony.
He's facing this charge because of a state law that took effect in 2019. It's a crime to make a report of explosives, weapons or harmful substances in a public or private space knowing that the report is false. The action is a class 6 felony.
State records show at least 60 people have been charged with this crime since January 2019. More than a third of the charges filed have been dismissed.
Two cases in Arapahoe County are still active.
In November 2021, Aurora police said a man drove into a drive-thru ATM and sent a note to a bank employee. According to the arrest affidavit, part of the note said "Give me 10,000 dollars....or I'll detonate the bomb that has been placed in your building."
The bank didn't give the suspect money, and he drove away, court documents say. The arrest affidavit says the suspect left a similar note at another bank in Denver.
Police said a note had been swabbed for DNA, and the DNA profile came back to their suspect.
In December 2020, Littleton police said, a man contacted the Colorado Crisis Line to threaten to blow up the Santa Fe House Crisis Stabilization Unit.
He sent a text saying "the bomb is going off in 20 minutes I ran away," according to the arrest affidavit.
Littleton police reported they tracked down the suspect with the help of a family member. The affidavit said the man admitted to drinking a little bit.
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