Arrest made related to false bomb threats in suburbs
The Wilmette Police Department and multiple other north-suburban agencies collaborated on an investigation that led to the arrest on Monday of a Skokie man for allegedly making violent threats toward numerous locations.
The Niles Police Department apprehended Jacob Spiro, 23, of Skokie, on Monday, and the county state’s attorney approved multiple felony charges — for making false threats and for disorderly conduct — related to threats made in Skokie and Glenview.
The Skokie Police Department received 16 bomb and violence threats in September and October, according to a release from the department, while Glenview received four threats between March and October, including one against a business.
Similar threats were reported to police departments in Morton Grove, Niles, Nortbrook and Wilmette — all of which participated in the investigation.
As of press time, Spiro had not been charged with threats made in other communities, such as the two bomb threats that came into the Wilmette Public Library in August. The Skokie release says, “additional charges may be filed in the future.”
The Wilmette Police Department confirmed it was involved in the investigation but would not comment on Spiro’s potential involvement in the library threats.
During the threats against the Wilmette library, one each on Aug. 17 and 20, the building closed early, and local authorities searched and cleared the scene, deeming the threats not credible.
On Aug. 17, threats reportedly were also made against libraries in Glenview, Park Ridge, Gurnee and Lincolnwood. And on Aug. 20, Wilmette, Park Ridge, Oak Park and Warren-Newton libraries were among the threatened local institutions, according to reporting from Daily Herald.
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Joe Coughlin
Joe Coughlin is a co-founder and the editor in chief of The Record. He leads investigative reporting and reports on anything else needed. Joe has been recognized for his investigative reporting and sports reporting, feature writing and photojournalism. Follow Joe on Twitter @joec2319
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