Man charged following bomb threat at Fountain business
FOUNTAIN, Colo. (KRDO) -- A man who is accused of claiming he had a bomb near a Fountain Walmart Wednesday morning has been identified.
The Fountain Police Department says Robert Lantz, 39, told employees of the McDonald's at 105 Plaza Blvd. that he had a bag with a bomb in it, and that they should not come outside.
McDonald's employees called 911 and the first Fountain Police officer on the scene located Lantz walking towards Walmart carrying a large black duffle bag. Investigators say that when the officer ordered Lantz to drop the bag Lantz fled on foot, leaving the bag on a sidewalk. A short time later the officer tackled Lantz and took him into custody.
A full evacuation of Walmart was ordered, and Fountain Police officers requested assistance from the Colorado Springs Police Department Bomb Unit. Explosives technicians determined there was not a bomb in the bag. They also searched the surrounding area and did not find any other explosive device. There were no reported injuries.
Lantz is being held at the El Paso County Jail on charges of felony false reporting of explosives, misdemeanor false reporting to authorities, and misdemeanor obstructing a police officer.
A few hours later another bomb threat was called into a dollar store on the 6900 block of Mesa Ridge Pkwy. That store and several nearby businesses were also evacuated, but no explosive device was found. There are no suspects identified in that incident.
