Train Incident
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ARVADA, Colo. -- An Amtrak train carrying nearly 140 passengers was evacuated near Denver after a passenger threatened the crew and others onboard, claiming he had a weapon and bomb, an Amtrak spokeswoman said early Monday.
The California Zephyr was stopped near Highway 72 on Blue Mountain Road in Arvada late Sunday night. Passengers were evacuated and transported by bus back to Denver.
Jefferson County's bomb squad searched the train and the passenger's bag. A large knife was found inside the bag, according to Commander Gary Creager with the Arvada Police department.
The police department is working with federal officials to determine if any laws were broken.
The train was cleared of any explosives and returned to Denver to pick up the evacuated passengers.
The California Zephyr was stopped near Highway 72 on Blue Mountain Road in Arvada late Sunday night. Passengers were evacuated and transported by bus back to Denver.
Jefferson County's bomb squad searched the train and the passenger's bag. A large knife was found inside the bag, according to Commander Gary Creager with the Arvada Police department.
The police department is working with federal officials to determine if any laws were broken.
The train was cleared of any explosives and returned to Denver to pick up the evacuated passengers.
A passenger on an Amtrak train has been turned over to the F.B.I. Officials say he made threatening statements. As a precaution 218 passengers were evacuated.
A spokeswoman for Amtrak said no injuries were reported in the incident that started around 9:45 p.m. Sunday evening. The train stopped in Arvada, about 22 miles west of Denver. The passengers were evacuated and taken by bus to Union Station in Denver.
Investigators said the passenger made suspicious comments to some of the other passengers on board. Those passengers told police they thought the man had a weapon and possibly a bomb.
Arvada police officers detained the man and did a sweep of the passenger and baggage cars.
A Public Information Officer for Arvada P.D. said they did find a knife on the man but a search of his bag failed to turn up any explosives. The man was detained and turned over to the F.B.I. A spokesperson for Amtrak says police also found crystal methamphetamine on the suspect.
Following the search, the train was allowed to continue its journey. It stopped at Union Station at about 2:30 Monday morning. The passengers were allowed back inside and the train departed Union Station at 4:47 Monday morning, according to Amtrak.
When the train was first stopped Sunday night, one passenger said he thought the train was simply waiting at a crossing. "I'd assumed we were waiting for a freight train but it just never happened. Then all the cops started showing up. They came and got a guy off the train," said passenger Chris Hill. Hill also said he and other passengers were told explosives were found, but that information is incorrect according to police investigators.
9NEWS Photojournalist Dennis Dolan, who interviewed many passengers, said they all appeared to be very calm following the evacuation. Amtrak directed the passengers onto RTD buses which brought them to Union Station in Denver.
"It was orderly. We got on buses, and our bus got lost, but we got here finally. Now, we just have to wait for our luggage and we don't know when that will be," said passenger Debbie Andrade who was travelling to Denver from Santa Cruz, California.
Once at the train station, passengers were given milk, juice and some breakfast pastries.
The California Zephyr train travels each day from Emeryville, California to Chicago. According to Amtrak, the suspect boarded the train in Salt Lake City.
A spokeswoman for Amtrak said no injuries were reported in the incident that started around 9:45 p.m. Sunday evening. The train stopped in Arvada, about 22 miles west of Denver. The passengers were evacuated and taken by bus to Union Station in Denver.
Investigators said the passenger made suspicious comments to some of the other passengers on board. Those passengers told police they thought the man had a weapon and possibly a bomb.
Arvada police officers detained the man and did a sweep of the passenger and baggage cars.
A Public Information Officer for Arvada P.D. said they did find a knife on the man but a search of his bag failed to turn up any explosives. The man was detained and turned over to the F.B.I. A spokesperson for Amtrak says police also found crystal methamphetamine on the suspect.
Following the search, the train was allowed to continue its journey. It stopped at Union Station at about 2:30 Monday morning. The passengers were allowed back inside and the train departed Union Station at 4:47 Monday morning, according to Amtrak.
When the train was first stopped Sunday night, one passenger said he thought the train was simply waiting at a crossing. "I'd assumed we were waiting for a freight train but it just never happened. Then all the cops started showing up. They came and got a guy off the train," said passenger Chris Hill. Hill also said he and other passengers were told explosives were found, but that information is incorrect according to police investigators.
9NEWS Photojournalist Dennis Dolan, who interviewed many passengers, said they all appeared to be very calm following the evacuation. Amtrak directed the passengers onto RTD buses which brought them to Union Station in Denver.
"It was orderly. We got on buses, and our bus got lost, but we got here finally. Now, we just have to wait for our luggage and we don't know when that will be," said passenger Debbie Andrade who was travelling to Denver from Santa Cruz, California.
Once at the train station, passengers were given milk, juice and some breakfast pastries.
The California Zephyr train travels each day from Emeryville, California to Chicago. According to Amtrak, the suspect boarded the train in Salt Lake City.
update
DENVER (AP) - The F-B-I has released a man suspected of causing the evacuation of an Amtrak train passenger in Arvada last night.
Special Agent Rene VonderHaar of the Denver F-B-I office says the man was let go this morning after several hours of questioning.
The F-B-I calls the incident a -- quote -- "complete misunderstanding."
VonderHaar now says there never actually was a threat on the train.
She says Arvada police, Jefferson county sheriff's deputies and the F-B-I all took part in a thorough investigation and interviewed the man extensively, then released him.
The man was on his way to a vacation. He was taken to Denver International Airport to board a flight.
His name and hometown have NOT been released.
DENVER (AP) - The F-B-I has released a man suspected of causing the evacuation of an Amtrak train passenger in Arvada last night.
Special Agent Rene VonderHaar of the Denver F-B-I office says the man was let go this morning after several hours of questioning.
The F-B-I calls the incident a -- quote -- "complete misunderstanding."
VonderHaar now says there never actually was a threat on the train.
She says Arvada police, Jefferson county sheriff's deputies and the F-B-I all took part in a thorough investigation and interviewed the man extensively, then released him.
The man was on his way to a vacation. He was taken to Denver International Airport to board a flight.
His name and hometown have NOT been released.
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