Man denied EBT card, makes bomb threat, Merced police say

A 43-year-old man was arrested Monday after allegedly making bomb threats against the Merced County Human Services Agency, police said.

Merced police said suspect Luis Zamora made the threat because he was denied an Electronic Benefit Transfer card on Monday.

Police said Zamora left the agency at 2115 Wardrobe Ave. after being denied and mentioned something about a bomb. He was then seen putting something inside of a drop box located near the building. Staff evacuated the building and the Merced Police Department’s Bomb Unit was called to the scene, police said in a press release.

While the officers were at the building, Zamora went to the Jack In the Box at and 13th and V streets, where he allegedly made a second bomb threat. As Zamora fled from the restaurant, Detective Joseph Henderson detained him, and witnesses identified him as the person who made the bomb threats.

Zamora was arrested on suspicion of two counts of making a bomb threat and a parole violation. He was booked into the Merced County jail, where he remains in lieu of $10,000 bail.

No explosive devices were found and no one was hurt, police said.

This story was originally published December 15, 2014 at 8:53 PM with the headline "Man denied EBT card, makes bomb threat, Merced police say."