The Thornton Police Department has arrested 28-year-old Lane Moreau in connection with bomb threats called in to City of Thornton facilities on July 21.
The first call came into the Thornton City Pool, 2141 E. 95th Ave., just before 2 p.m. Six minutes later, a second call came into the Margaret Carpenter Recreation Center, 11151 Colorado Blvd. In both cases, the suspect said he was making a bomb threat.
Officers were dispatched to both locations and helped city staff evacuate patrons as well as set up reunification points. Thornton Police requested mutual aid. Explosives detection K9s from RTD Transit Police, Commerce City Police, Adams County Sheriff's Office, Douglas County Sheriff's Office, and the U.S. Marshals Service responded to assist with the searches. No suspicious items were found, and both scenes were cleared by 5 p.m. Both facilities were closed for the remainder of the day and will resume normal operations Wednesday, July 22.
Detectives quickly identified Moreau as a suspect. Investigators arrived at his residence by 2:30 p.m. and detained him for questioning. He was taken into custody by 6 p.m., just four hours after the first call came in.
Moreau was arrested on two counts of false reporting of explosives and booked into the Adams County Jail.
At this time, investigators do not have any information indicating this incident is connected to the bomb threat received by Water World on July 11. However, detectives are in communication with the Federal Heights Police Department and are looking into the possibility.
"Today's successful outcome reflects the outstanding teamwork between our city staff, dispatchers, patrol officers, detectives, and our law enforcement partners," said Thornton Police Chief Jim Baird. "Everyone responded with professionalism and urgency, and I'm grateful their coordinated efforts brought this incident to a safe and swift resolution.”
Under Colorado law, the arrest and filing of criminal charges are merely formal accusations that an individual committed a crime. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.