Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) officials report that 42-year-old Jonathan Keim of San Jose, who allegedly threatened to detonate a suicide-bomb on a transit agency vehicle, was taken into custody at 11:36 a.m.
Keim made a phone call and sent an email to VTA officials at 9:13 a.m. Wednesday stating that he planned to execute the bombing, VTA spokeswoman Stacey Hendler Ross said. In addition, Keim made various threats to local public officials, according to the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office.
The VTA, which operates buses and light rail throughout Santa Clara County, had all vehicles stopped and searched, Hendler Ross said. The transit agency announced the stoppage and emergency at 10:56 a.m.
Transit patrol officers from the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office and VTA security employees and operators were told to look out for Keim, who was believed to be armed, according to Hendler Ross.
The Sheriff’s Office Transit Patrol immediately began a large-scale criminal investigation/search. Less than two hours later, we were able to locate and arrest Keim. He was arrested without incident at a fast food restaurant. No explosive devices or material were located on him upon arrest, the sheriff’s office said in a statement this afternoon.
Deputies with bomb detection K9s conducted a search of Keim’s residence. No bomb-making material was seen by deputies nor did the K9s detect any explosive chemicals, the sheriff’s office said.
Sheriff deputies searched VTA properties and the area immediate area where he was arrested but they did not find any explosive devices.
Investigators are reviewing VTA system-wide security cameras.
“The Sheriff’s Office would like to thank VTA employees for their fast action. In addition, we would like to thank the media outlets who expeditiously forwarded the initial threats to law enforcement. Today’s successful investigation was a great example of the slogan, ‘See Something, Say Something,’ the department said in its statement.