MONTCALM COUNTY, Mich. — After false bomb threats were made to both Tri County High School and Community First Credit Union here last week, the local Sheriff's Department reports they have a suspect in custody.
Twenty-four-year-old Nathen Beemer was arrested and charged with two counts of false report of a bomb and one count of malicious use of a telecommunications device, WZZM 13 reported.
Beemer was arraigned in court and is being held on a $75,000 bond.
As CUToday.info reported, Community First Federal Credit Union closed all branches on Wednesday last week and Tri-County High School was placed on lockdown following a series of threats.
The Montcalm County Sheriff’s Office said deputies responded around 12:11 p.m. to reports of a bomb threat targeting several Community First branches in Lakeview, Howard City, and Trufant. Officers also secured and cleared two additional branches in neighboring Mecosta County, located in Morley and Remus.
While no explosives were found, the credit union closed its entire network of branches and evacuated staff “out of an abundance of caution,” officials said.
While deputies were investigating the threat to Community First, the Sheriff's Department said a second bomb threat was reported at Tri County High School. The school was placed on lockdown during the investigation, though, as with the credit union, the threat to the school was deemed not credible and no explosive devices were found.
The two threats were determined to be a swatting hoax, local law enforcement stated.