KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI: A Missouri man has been arrested for fabricating a bomb threat so that his friend could skip work. According to the Clay County Sheriff's Office, Zachariah Peterson has been charged with making a terroristic threat following an alleged swatting call he reportedly placed on Tuesday, July 18, that led to the evacuation of a Ford Assembly Plant in Kansas City.
According to reports, Peterson claimed on the call that he was hiding in a bathroom, carrying a gun and had explosives strapped to his chest. According to Clay County Prosecuting Attorney Zachary Thompson, the defendant allegedly placed the call using a phone app that changed his voice, per The Courier-Tribune.
Who is Zachariah Peterson?
Peterson, 19, from Missouri, was charged with making a terroristic threat when he reported a fake bomb threat to a Ford assembly plant in Claycomo, Missouri. He claimed that he was forced and pleaded not guilty plea in court.
Peterson acknowledged that he claimed to have "an AK-47 and a pound of C4 strapped to his chest because he was tired of being worked like a slave and his hours were getting cut" during the call. He added that he "said he wanted the plant evacuated and everyone to go home for the night," as per kctv5.
'So much damage in one case'
Over 2,000 workers were evacuated while police conducted an hour-long search. "When someone makes a call like that, they pull law enforcement officers away from their duties keeping our communities safe," Thompson said in a press conference, adding, "This type of crime also endangers workers who are only trying to do their job and can cause severe emotional tolls on those forced to evacuate. It also has severe financial implications for local businesses."
Thompson praised the police for "heroically entering the building" when they believed there was a person inside with bombs and weapons. "It’s unfortunate that one person was able to do so much damage in one case," Thompson further stated.
The Kansas City Star reported that over 100 police officers rushed to the spot. As per reports, Peterson told authorities that he had learned about C4 explosives from playing the video game, 'Call of Duty'. "This hoax created a huge strain on law enforcement — not to mention the financial loss that Ford suffered from shutting down production," Clay County Sheriff Will Akin stated.
Peterson has been charged with the Class D felony of making a terrorist threat, according to Thompson. The potential penalties include a $10,000 fine and up to seven years in the Missouri Department of Corrections. Peterson was arrested from his Independence residence around 4.30 am.