Man charged with terrorism threats after reported bomb scare at Iowa courthouse
By KCCI staff
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ADEL, Iowa (KCCI) — A Dallas County man is facing felony charges after authorities say he made a bomb threat against the Dallas County Courthouse earlier this year.
Ryan Van Gorp is charged with two counts of threat of terrorism, a Class D felony under Iowa law.
According to the Dallas County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were notified early Feb. 6, about a tip submitted to the FBI through an online reporting system claiming two men had placed explosive devices throughout the courthouse and planned to detonate them at 9 a.m. that day. Investigators later learned a voicemail with the same threat had also been left for an executive assistant with the State Court Administration.
Security measures were implemented at the courthouse, including a search by an explosives-detection K-9. No explosive devices were found.
Through search warrants, detectives seized a cellphone belonging to Van Gorp that was used to submit the online tip. A forensic review also showed a record of the voicemail and other evidence related to the investigation.
Van Gorp was arrested Feb. 9 on an unrelated warrant. Authorities said he had been scheduled to be sentenced in two Dallas County court cases the same day the threat was reported.
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