By Hamodia Staff
A Las Vegas man was arrested by police Monday after he allegedly threatened to “shoot up” a local Chabad shul, while he believed “the Jews and police were after him.”
According to Fox 5 Vegas, Michael Sanchez, 37, is being held on $20,000 bond on a charge of making threats or conveying false information concerning acts of terrorism.
The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department report said that on Monday, a Rabbi at the Chabad of Southern Nevada Synagogue contacted the FBI about a threat he received on the phone “from a subject indicating they were going to come shoot the synagogue.”
The Rabbi gave agents the phone number of the caller and it was traced to Sanchez’s residence, police said.
The FBI contacted the Southern Nevada Counterterrorism Center and LVMPD officers responded to the synagogue and Sanchez’s home.
At the synagogue, the Rabbi told police he had received a call from Sanchez, who identified himself and said, “Michael made verbal threats towards him and the synagogue.”
Sanchez then brought up the shooting at a Chabad shul in Poway, CA, several years ago, where one woman was killed and three others, including an eight-year-old, were wounded.
Recordings of the call were given to the authorities.
Investigators went to Sanchez’s home and upon seeing officers, Sanchez told police that “he knew they were there because the ‘Jews’ sent them.”
While speaking to the officers, Sanchez admitted he made the call and threatened to “shoot up” the synagogue. He further stated he believed “the Jews and police were out to get him.”
“Officers recognized in speaking with Sanchez that he was displaying signs of paranoia,” the police statement said.
When police tried to get family contact information from Sanchez, he became agitated and said his family would tell lies about him.
Sanchez’s next court appearance is scheduled for Wednesday.
Source: Hamodia
