Michigan man faces terrorism charges over fake bomb call, threat to lawmaker

A Michigan man faces terrorism and other felony charges after allegedly calling in a fake bomb threat to the state Capitol and separately threatening to kill a state representative. But officials have not explained why Michael Chad Varrone was not arrested nearly a month ago, when he allegedly used his cell phone to threaten to kill state Rep. Cynthia Johnson, D-Detroit, and her family, identifying himself and even spelling his name in a voicemail message he left with a legislative office. A Michigan State Police spokeswoman initially said House sergeants — not the MSP — handled the investigation of the Dec. 12 voicemail message that threatened Johnson. But Gideon D’Assandro, a spokesman for the House speaker, said House sergeants deal only with immediate threats around the Capitol complex, and they referred the phone call to the MSP. A Michigan man faces terrorism and other felony charges after allegedly calling in a fake bomb threat to the state Capitol and separately threatening to kill a state representative. But officials have not explained why Michael Chad Varrone was not arrested nearly a month ago, when he allegedly used his cell phone to threaten to kill state Rep. Cynthia Johnson, D-Detroit, and her family, identifying himself and even spelling his name in a voicemail message he left with a legislative office. A Michigan State Police spokeswoman initially said House sergeants — not the MSP — handled the investigation of the Dec. 12 voicemail message that threatened Johnson. But Gideon D’Assandro, a spokesman for the House speaker, said House sergeants deal only with immediate threats around the Capitol complex, and they referred the phone call to the MSP.

via freep: Michigan man faces terrorism charges over fake bomb call, threat to lawmaker