Modesto bomb threat update: Employees at business say man threw device causing ‘fireballs’
The Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Office bomb squad was called to the 100 block of McHenry Avenue near downtown late Thursday morning to investigate a bomb threat, said Lt. Felton Payne.
Firefighters first arrived at the scene to investigate a small fire at a business, but backed off when they located the device, he said.
Employees of SG Property management said a disgruntled landlord, identified as 40-year-old Havel Shenoghaterche, walked into the lobby of their office and threw a device that released “fireballs” at their bookkeeper.
The device started a small fire that was put out with a fire extinguisher.
The bookkeeper, who asked to remain anonymous for fear of her life, said she was happy to be alive and uninjured. This is the “first time we’ve ever experienced anything like this,” she said.
SG Property had recently dropped Shenoghaterche as a client because, employees said, he had a history of coming into the office and yelling at them.
When the incident occurred, SG Property’s employees said Shenoghaterche yelled, “The tenants are gonna take me to jail,” seemingly to express his willfulness to carry out the act.
As of noon, McHenry was blocked off in both directions from Johnson Street down to the Five Points intersection as the Sheriff’s Office investigated the device.
Shenoghaterche was arrested on suspicion of arson, possession of an incendiary device, possessing materials used to make one and two counts of assault with a deadly weapon. His bail was set to $560,000.
This is a breaking news story and will be updated as more information becomes available. Editor’s note: The story has been updated to correctly identify the bomb squad as the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s unit.
