Suspect in Threatened Bombing Due in Court

The suspect in a bizarre drug theft that paralyzed two Ingham County communities for several hours on Wednesday is due in court today.

The man, said to be in his 60's, is identified only as a Haslett resident.  The Meridian Township home is where he was taken into custody around 5 o'clock after holding police--including members of theMichigan State Police Bomb Squad--at bay for nearly 3 hours before surrendering.

The Lansing State Journal is reporting today that he is suspected of entering the Mid-Michigan Physicians building on Lake Lansing Road and demanding drugs from a pharmacist there after saying had a bomb strapped to his body.  Witnesses say he even showed what appeared to be a detonator.

After receiving the narcotics, he allegedly said there were more explosives in the building prompting the evacuation of the facility--including patients who were receiving treatment.  A search of the building, though, turned up no explosives.

The suspec'ts vehicle was then tracked to the condo in Haslett, about ten miles east of Lansing, where another evacuation was called in the 1800 block of Nemoke Trail.  The suspect was taken into custody there without incident.

Police say the man never made any threats but residents were forced from their homes as a precaution in the event he had explosives.

The suspect was taken to Sparrow Hospital for treatment of undisclosed injuries.  He was seen alert and responsive while being loaded into a waiting ambulance.

While he could face charges of robbery and potential terrorism charges in Lansing Township, he won't likely face any charges in neighboring Meridian Township.  Officials there say he "technically" did nothing criminal there.

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