Press Release from the Larimer County Sheriff's Office
At approximately 5:14 a.m. this morning the Larimer County Sheriff's Office was notified of a bomb threat on two Trailway buses en route from Salt Lake City to Denver with a scheduled stop in Fort Collins.
The two buses were rerouted to the Ranch at I-25 & Crossroads Boulevard as a precaution and deputies evacuated the passengers from the bus. There were a total of 96 passengers on the buses with 45 passengers on the bus alleged to have the bomb.
A 66-year old man who boarded the bus in Salt Lake City was taken into custody.
The Larimer County Bomb Squad is preparing to search the buses.
The investigation is ongoing.
UPDATE @ 8:40 a.m.
The Larimer County Bomb Squad has finished deploying the bomb robot and finished x-raying all luggage. Nothing suspicious has been found at this time. Bomb technicians will begin manual search of luggage shortly. A K-9 unit from Jefferson County trained in bomb detection is being brought in to assist. It is expected to take 1.5 to 3 hours to complete the search.
Investigators are continuing to take witness statements from other passengers on the buses.
Suspect identified as Roland Paul Arel, DOB: 080546, listed as a transient from Sacramento, California who boarded the bus in Salt Lake City.
Suspect is in custody. Charges are pending. No motive has been determined at this time.
Update @ 9:20 a.m.
The Larimer County Bomb Squad has given the all clear for the buses involved in the bomb threat.
Passengers will be reloading the buses and on their way shortly.
Investigation for motive is on-going. Charges are pending.
