IRON COUNTY, Utah, Aug. 10, 2024 (Gephardt Daily) — An Iron County man was booked into jail Friday night after he allegedly called dispatch to share his plan to make chemical bombs from discount store supplies, and to use the bombs on his neighbors.
Austin James Gatherum, 31, was ultimately arrested for investigation of emergency reporting abuse – imminent serious injury/death, a second-degree felony; and intoxication, a class C misdemeanor.
Charges will be determined by the Iron County District Attorney’s Office.
At about 7:22 p.m. Friday, “Gaterum called dispatch and told them he was going to chemical bomb his neighbors,” his affidavit says.
“Gatherum told dispatch he knew how to make chemical bombs and would be travelling to ‘Dollar Store’ to buy his supplies. Gatherum planned to make the bombs and was going to bomb them tonight.
“Dispatch transferred him to me and I spoke with Gatherum, who told me the same,” wrote the Iron County deputy who filed the report.
“I advised Gatherum he couldn’t make those threats, and he continued to make them, saying he was going to bomb them at their bedroom window.
“Gatherum demanded law enforcement respond to his house to investigate a call that occurred earlier in the week, which was already under investigation by a different deputy. Gatherum said law enforcement wasn’t helping him so he was going to take matters into his own hands.”
Because of Gatherum “having a plan, a way, a target, and a time he planned to attack, law enforcement responded to his house,” the affidavit says. “Upon arrival to Gatherum’s residence, I observed he had red, bloodshot, watery eyes and smelled of alcoholic beverage.”
Gatherum was booked into the Iron County jail.
“While being transported, Gatherum told me he hadn’t left his property and only made the threats to cause a law enforcement response to his property. Gatherum then later told me that he was just upset and was drunk at the time of calling. Gatherum was booked into jail.”
Gatherum has a history of calling into threats, the affidavit says, adding that the habit “has escalated to the point of bomb threats. Gatherum believes his neighbors are out to get him, and I believe he poses a risk to them. While being transported, Gatherum said he may leave Iron County to go back to Washington County.”
He was ordered to be held without bail.
