Prosecutors: 73-year-old man made false bomb threat on Metra train
Sun-Times Media Wire August 11, 2012 10:26PM
Updated: September 13, 2012 6:30AM
A 73-year-old man who claimed to have a “10 megaton bomb” on a Metra train was ordered held on $50,000 bail Saturday.
King E. Griffin, a military veteran, allegedly told up to 50 passengers on a Rock Island Line train during Friday afternoon rush hour that he had a bomb in his backpack, county prosecutors claim.
“Nobody touch my bag, I have a 10 megaton bomb in my bag,” Griffin allegedly said as he walked away from his backpack and into a train-car restroom, according to a police report.
Two passengers told a train conductor about Griffin’s alleged bomb threat, the report said, and the conductor told police to meet the train at the 35th Street station.
Arriving officers allegedly found Griffin standing on the station platform with his backpack.
“It is all a joke,” Griffin allegedly told officers at the station. “I told everyone I have a 10 megaton bomb in my backpack.”
Despite Griffin’s comments, officers requested a bomb-sniffing dog, which did not detect any explosives.
Griffin faces a felony count of disorderly conduct for making a false bomb threat and is scheduled to appear back in court Friday.
