Hagerstown man arrested in connection with bomb threat at MVA

A Hagerstown man and Maryland Vehicle Administration employee was arrested Friday after threatening to bomb his workplace, according to the Office of the State Fire Marshal.

The 38-year-old employee faces one count of making a threat of mass violence and one count of arson threat after other MVA employees told Maryland State Police that the suspect said he was going to bomb the building located on Colonel Henry K. Douglas Drive in Hagerstown, according to a news release from the fire marshal.

The report was made to a trooper working the MVA around 10:30 a.m. Friday. A preliminary investigation prompted a response from the Office of the State Fire Marshal bomb squad and an explosive detection canine team, according to the release.

The facility was searched by K9 “Rosie.” No explosives were found, the release says.

Deputy state fire marshals assumed the investigation. After consulting with the Washington County State’s Attorney’s Office, the suspect was taken into custody on an arrest warrant.

The fire marshal’s office said investigators petitioned for and obtained an extreme risk protective order to search the suspect’s home.

Troopers discovered there 26 guns and 67 containers of ammunition, according to the release. The guns and ammunition were taken by police, and the suspect was taken to an area hospital for medical evaluation.