Bomb threats against Las Vegas casinos prompt arrest of two in California

Two people were arrested this week in connection with calling in bomb threats to Las Vegas hotels and casinos and trying to extort money, Las Vegas police said Thursday.

Only one of the people arrested, Zachary Jackson, was identified. The second suspect is a juvenile, police said. Jackson was booked into a Ventura County sheriff's office detention center in California.

Police said that from July 28 to Monday, hotels and casinos received bomb threats. The caller appeared to disguise his voice and was demanding large amounts of money, police said.

The caller threatened to detonate the bombs and destroy the properties if his demands were not met.

The Metropolitan Police Department's Counter Terrorism Section investigated and learned the calls were being made using a device to conceal the caller's identity and whereabouts. The calls were being made from Ventura County.

The Ventura County sheriff's office joined the investigation. On Wednesday, officials with the sheriff's office and Las Vegas police served a search warrant in Ventura County as part of the investigation. Key evidence was seized, police said.

Jackson was arrested after the warrant was served.

Contact reporter Antonio Planas at aplanas@review journal.com or 702-383-4638.