Man arrested in bomb threat case

Cass County deputies have arrested a man who allegedly phoned in a bomb threat to the county courthouse last month.

Sheriff Richard Behnke said the original incident occurred the morning of June 21, when a call was placed to the county’s central dispatch center. The caller indicated there was a bomb inside the courthouse.

The building was evacuated and a thorough search by a bomb-sniffing dog found there was no bomb.

Detectives with the sheriff’s office and the Cass County Drug Team investigated the call and after executing several search warrants developed a suspect.

Deputies last Friday arrested Patrick Kyle McMeeken. His age and community of residence were not included in a department media release.

He was charged with false report or threat of terrorism, using a computer to commit a crime and conspiracy to commit obstruction of justice, according to Behnke, who added that McMeeken is a habitual offender.

If convicted, McMeeken faces up to a life sentence, authorities said.