Caller frustrated with long hold time makes bomb threat to clinic, IA cops say
An Iowa urgent care was evacuated when a frustrated caller said there was an bomb in the building, Iowa police said.
Kevin Sanders, 59, told Clive police he became frustrated with how long he was on hold with MercyOne Family Medicine, according to a June 5 news release.
When he was taken off hold, he asked why he was made to wait for so long, then said there was a bomb in the building and abruptly hung up, police said.
Authorities tracked the phone number used back to Sanders, and he was arrested, according to police. Sanders is facing a misdemeanor harassment charge, police said.
“While this comment may have been made out of frustration, it does not relieve Mr. Sanders from the repercussions that have accompanied it. This call resulted in the evacuation of a medical facility, disruption of services to those in need of medical care, and wasted resources of the Clive Police and Fire Departments, as well as the Johnston Police Department,” Police Chief Mark Rehberg said in the release.
McClatchy News reached out to MercyOne on June 6 but did not immediately receive a response.
Clive is about a 10-mile drive west from Des Moines.
This story was originally published June 6, 2025 at 12:44 PM with the headline "Caller frustrated with long hold time makes bomb threat to clinic, IA cops say."
