Teh One Who Knocks
08-31-2012, 04:56 PM
By Lance Hernandez and Deb Stanley - 7 News Denver
GREELEY, Colo. -- The Weld County Sheriff’s Office is trying to track down the phone number of a telemarketer who they say threatened the life of a homeowner in Mead.
Sgt. Tim Schwartz told 7NEWS that the homeowner received a call from the telemarketer Tuesday evening.
“The telemarketer was explaining to him that he had won some money,” Schwartz said. “The homeowner was not interested and hung up the phone.”
Schwartz said the telemarketer called back immediately “and got pretty rude, telling the homeowner, ‘I’ve placed a bomb in your house.’”
The homeowner, who declined an on-camera interview, told 7NEWS, “I think the call came from overseas. He had a very thick accent.”
After hearing the threat, the homeowner called 911.
Authorities responded and evacuated nearby homes while searching the victim’s house.
“It was like Oh my God! A bomb threat,” said Elaine Stanchfield, one of the evacuees.
Deputies took the evacuated residents to the Mead Fire Station and Town Hall.
Deputies from the Weld County Sheriff’s Office, and officers from the Colorado State Patrol, Dacono Police, Firestone Police and Mountain View Fire Department searched the home looking for explosives. They did not find anything.
Stanchfield said she can’t believe what happened.
“I personally think that telemarketers are a big pain because they constantly call you even when you ask them not to. But to go to those lengths to actually threaten someone is just ridiculous,” she said.
Schwartz said threats like that are very rare.
“It’s completely out of the ordinary,” Schwartz said. “I don’t know how to explain it. They’re just pretty pushy I guess.”
Schwartz said it may be next to impossible to track down the telemarketer.
He said if they determine the call came from outside the U.S., they’ll alert the FBI to the threats.
He said if they determine the call was made in the U.S., they can issue an arrest warrant, if they learn who made the call.
GREELEY, Colo. -- The Weld County Sheriff’s Office is trying to track down the phone number of a telemarketer who they say threatened the life of a homeowner in Mead.
Sgt. Tim Schwartz told 7NEWS that the homeowner received a call from the telemarketer Tuesday evening.
“The telemarketer was explaining to him that he had won some money,” Schwartz said. “The homeowner was not interested and hung up the phone.”
Schwartz said the telemarketer called back immediately “and got pretty rude, telling the homeowner, ‘I’ve placed a bomb in your house.’”
The homeowner, who declined an on-camera interview, told 7NEWS, “I think the call came from overseas. He had a very thick accent.”
After hearing the threat, the homeowner called 911.
Authorities responded and evacuated nearby homes while searching the victim’s house.
“It was like Oh my God! A bomb threat,” said Elaine Stanchfield, one of the evacuees.
Deputies took the evacuated residents to the Mead Fire Station and Town Hall.
Deputies from the Weld County Sheriff’s Office, and officers from the Colorado State Patrol, Dacono Police, Firestone Police and Mountain View Fire Department searched the home looking for explosives. They did not find anything.
Stanchfield said she can’t believe what happened.
“I personally think that telemarketers are a big pain because they constantly call you even when you ask them not to. But to go to those lengths to actually threaten someone is just ridiculous,” she said.
Schwartz said threats like that are very rare.
“It’s completely out of the ordinary,” Schwartz said. “I don’t know how to explain it. They’re just pretty pushy I guess.”
Schwartz said it may be next to impossible to track down the telemarketer.
He said if they determine the call came from outside the U.S., they’ll alert the FBI to the threats.
He said if they determine the call was made in the U.S., they can issue an arrest warrant, if they learn who made the call.