Man arrested over pipe bomb threats against LGBT people
A man in Guerneville, California, has been arrested after he threatened to set off pipe bombs in the city.
Vincent Joseph O’Sullivan was arrested by police after making threats to set off pipe bombs at the Guerneville Safeway supermarket and the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office.
O’Sullivan also allegedly stole two rainbow flags that were flying outside the office of the Guerneville Chamber of Commerce, throwing one in a river.
Guerneville, located north of San Francisco, is known for its large LGBT community, hosting the annual Lazy Bear Weekend aimed at members of the gay bear subculture.
Police records show O’Sullivan was arrested on suspicion of petty theft, making criminal threats and a hate crime, and is being held on $50,000 bail.
Lieutenant Eddie Engram said the suspect’s intent was to injure members of the LGBTQ community and police officers.
According to Sonoma West Times and News, the 55-year-old man was taken into custody on Saturday (May 12) after calling a man a “faggot” and telling him that “you [gay people] all need to leave.”
Police said: “As they were conducting the investigation into the theft of the rainbow flags, sheriff deputies were made aware of threats to manufacture a pipe bomb for the purpose of detonating it at the Guerneville Safeway and the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office Guerneville substation.
“The intent was to injure members of the LGBTQ community and deputies.
“In the course of the investigation deputies from the Guerneville substation developed probable cause that Vincent Joseph O’Sullivan (55) of Guerneville was the suspect in both cases.”
