Gentry man is arrested in connection to bomb threat

GENTRY -- Police arrested John E. Saathoff, 24, of Gentry, in connection with a bomb threat allegedly made to McDonald's Restaurant, located at 467 South Gentry Blvd., in Gentry, on Jan. 21.

Gentry officers were notified of the threat at the McDonald's Restaurant on Jan. 21, at approximately 12 p.m., according to a police department press release. The building was cleared and searched, according to the release, finding no suspicious items. The restaurant was then turned over to store managers for reopening.

A lengthy investigation followed. During the investigation, it was determined the threatening call to McDonald's was made from a phone registered to Saathoff, the release states. Through investigative interviews, subpoenas for phone records and the assistance of the Benton County Sheriff's Office Cyber-Crimes Unit, police determined Saathoff had made the call to McDonald's, the release states.

An arrest warrant was issued for Saathoff on May 17, and Gentry officers located and arrested Saathoff shortly afterward without incident, according to the release.

Saathoff is currently being held in the Benton County Jail pending a bond hearing in connection with felony charges of falsely communicating a terrorist threat and terroristic threatening in the first degree and a misdemeanor charge of communicating a false alarm, according to the release.