This week’s discovery of an improvised explosive device outside the main entrance to the state Capitol on Tuesday and a separate Wednesday email bomb threat hoax at a Lander college are uncommon occurrences in Wyoming, but they are nevertheless taxing for law enforcement agencies, officials said.
“These acts are often intended to disrupt, cause fear, or gain attention, though sometimes they’re used to test response capabilities,” said Deputy Jason Mower, public affairs director for the Sweetwater County Sheriff's Office. “When they do occur, we err on the side of caution and respond in coordination with our local, state, and federal partners to ensure public safety.
"Regardless of motive, such threats are taken seriously, and if found to be a hoax, those responsible can face serious state or federal charges.”
On Tuesday, a package containing a deconstructed live firework munition with a fuse left on the Great Seal of the state Capitol sparked a mass evacuation and a large-scale criminal investigation.
After searching the grounds with K-9s and personnel from multiple law enforcement agencies, the Capitol reopened Wednesday.
Then on Friday, the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation released images from surveillance video of two persons of interest who were in the area around the time the device was discovered.
The first individual is described as having a dark complexion and wearing a dark hoodie with a circle-shaped emblem on the front and sleeves.
That person also was wearing light-colored pants and dark shoes with white laces and white toe box.
The second individual is lighter in complexion, had a backpack, and was wearing an unzipped, dark-colored coat, possibly made by North Face. Under the coat was a dark shirt.
The person also was wearing dark pants and shoes. The pair are not being called suspects, but are wanted for questioning by DCI.
Then In Lander
In a separate incident, the Lander Police Department received reports Thursday of an email outlining a possible bomb threat directed at Wyoming Catholic College in Lander.
“After an extensive search, no explosive devices or credible threats were found,” Lander police said in a statement. “The investigation determined that the email threat was part of a hoax similar to others reported in multiple jurisdictions on the East Coast from several months back.”
Wyoming Catholic College officials did not respond to a request for comment.
There have been similar bomb threats at universities in Maryland, Delaware and other states this year as part of a larger trend of false reporting also known as “swatting” that’s aimed at triggering law enforcement response.
Creates Chaos
The motivation behind bomb threat hoaxes can include creating chaos or disrupting normal activities, or can be used as a tool for extortion, according to the Counter Terrorism Certification Board.
Although swatting incidents and bomb threats are rare in Wyoming, explosives have been discovered in various parts of the state over the past six months.
In April, a 15-year-old boy found four training grenades by a river on Riverton’s south end and brought them to his grandmother’s house.
In June, a bomb squad was called to disarm what looked like a pipe bomb along Lander’s idyllic Popo Agie River walk. An X-ray image showed the device to be a fake pipe bomb.
With the training grenades incident, it was the second time in three months people had found potential explosives in Fremont County.
Perpetrators who make false bomb threats are often difficult to apprehend because they mask their voice, use a virtual private network to disguise their computer IP addresses or send encrypted emails, said Albany County Sheriff Aaron Appelhans.
However, law enforcement personnel can’t discount the authenticity of the threats, he said, adding that, “We have to respond, but it’s a real drain on personnel and resources."
Scott Schwebke can be reached at scott@cowboystatedaily.com.
