COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. -- The Gold Hills Patrol Station in Colorado Springs was evacuated for almost four hours Friday after a homeless man entered the police station claiming to have a bomb.
Police say around 12:30 p.m. 27-year-old Chelyadin Konstantin walked into the station telling the desk sergeant he has 30 minutes to leave before the bomb in his backpack explodes. Officers immediately arrested Konstantin and evacuated the building and the surrounding 300 feet.
Reverse 911 phone calls were made to nearby businesses, and residents living in the apartment buildings across the street from the substation were told to stay indoors and away from windows.
With the possibility of an explosion, officers were concerned about shrapnel and the 'blast wave' because the pressure from an explosive device can shatter windows a mile or more away.
"The larger the device, the further it can throw shrapnel that concussive force can cause a lot of damage and kill people," Sgt. Darrin Abbink with the Colorado Springs Police Department said.
The Regional Explosives unit with an explosives K-9 and robot searched the area and gave it the all clear almost four hours later. Officers later searched through the backpack in question, but there was no sign of a motive, and nothing was found besides personal belongings.
"Most of the people I know running around with mental health issues don't have the brains to put something like that together. I think it's just a backpack full of junk," John Paul, a neighbor, said.
Konstantin was charged with false reporting of explosives and possession of a hoax device. Both are felony offenses.
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