LYNNWOOD — Police arrested a naked man Wednesday morning after a bomb threat at a state Department of Corrections office near the Alderwood mall.
The building at 18710 33rd Ave. W, was cleared of employees before the man surrendered. Many took refuge in a restaurant nearby while a bomb squad investigated.
There was no bomb, officials said Wednesday afternoon.
A stretch of 33rd Avenue also was closed to traffic.
The Mountlake Terrace man, 42, reportedly has criminal history but is not on active community supervision. He walked into the office shortly after 9 a.m. Wednesday and made threats about blowing up the building, Lynnwood police Sgt. Sean Doty said. The man had two backpack-sized bags and threw one of them at the interior window of the office.
A employee hid from the man and was able to get out safely when Lynnwood police arrived.
“All of our staff is safe, which we are all grateful for,” state Department of Corrections spokeswoman Norah West said.
The employees were kept out of the building for more than three hours while bomb experts investigated.
The man was taken into custody shortly after 10 a.m. The man was clothed when he showed up at the office. He came out of the building naked, Doty said.
Lynnwood police requested assistance from a Washington State Patrol police dog team and Everett Police Department bomb technicians in determining if an explosive device was left in the building.
“It is unknown at this time what the suspect’s relation is to the Department of Corrections office,” Doty said.
Eric Stevick: 425-339-3446, stevick@heraldnet.com.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
