Bomb threat

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Three bomb threats in three months

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  • Orlando Archunde III
    Orlando Archunde III
  • Sara Baca
    Sara Baca
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GRANTS, N.M. – On September 22 the Cibola County Government complex, which also houses the Smith’s grocery store on 700 Roosevelt Avenue in Grants, New Mexico, was evacuated for the third time in three months because of a bomb threat. The incident created traffic issues and diverted police resources across the city of Grants and Cibola County.

The call came in around 2:30 p.m. and first responders from Superior Ambulance, Grants Police Department and the Grants Fire and Rescue immediately rushed to the scene and evacuated the complex. City street department employees assisted with traffic control. A phone call was received by the 13th Judicial Court Clerk’s Office alleging that there was a bomb in the building; the clerk’s office contacted the authorities who started the evacuation, according to the Cibola County Sheriff’s Office.

This was the third bomb threat against the complex; the first two, one in July and one in August, had targeted Smith’s grocery store.

Cibola County Sheriff Tony Mace said that this most recent threat was not credible, and that it “disrupted the court system for hours.”

During the investigation of the fake threat, deputies interviewed the court clerk who took the call. That clerk had written down the phone number of the alleged threat maker and gave it to law enforcement who identified the number as belonging to Grants resident Sara Baca.

Continuing their investigation, deputies discovered that Baca allegedly conspired with Orlando Archunde III to make the threat. At this point it is not clear why the pair allegedly conspired to make the threat, according to the sheriff’s office.

Deputies learned that Archunde is on record with the Adult Probation and Parole Office and meets with the office to perform drug tests. The APPO had Archunde’s address and identifying information.

Deputies obtained arrest warrants against the pair for the alleged bomb threat, they managed to find and arrest Archunde, charging him with unlawful bomb scare, conspiracy, and possession of methamphetamine. Currently Baca remains at large.

Officials have asked anyone with information about Baca to contact Cibola County CrimeStoppers at 505-287-8400 or the Cibola County Sheriff’s Office at 505-876-2040.