Man makes threat to blow up municipal courthouse
Published 12:00 am Sunday, May 16, 2010
CHESAPEAKE — A man who allegedly threatened to blow up the Lawrence County Municipal Court building recently made a couple of key mistakes that led to his arrest. He left voicemail messages allegedly stating his name and his cellular telephone number.
Brandon C. Lowe, 26, of 143 ½ Township Road 1118, Chesapeake, was charged last week with making terroristic threats and taken to the Lawrence County Jail.
According to a Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office report, Lowe made several calls to the court and, when he did not get through to a staff member, left voice mail messages on the bailiff’s voicemail.
“I did witness one statement made about blowing up municipal court. I also witnessed other voice mails that consisted of cursing at municipal court,” Detective Aaron Bollinger wrote in his report. “During the voice mail the male subject identified himself as Brandon Lowe and even left a cell phone number.”
When Bollinger and Detective J.C. Daniel located Lowe, he reportedly told them he did not mean he would actually blow up the court. Lowe also allegedly said he knew he should not have said what he did after he hung up the telephone. Lowe reportedly told authorities he had really meant he would blow up the phone.
Lowe was arraigned Friday in Lawrence County Municipal Court. Attorney Philip Heald was appointed to represent him. Lowe must return to court May 21 for a preliminary hearing.