Meridian Man Arrested For Fake Bomb

(KTVB)  Police

say the man they arrested on Wednesday for possessing a fake explosive device had threatened to activate it and "take out" law enforcement. Meridian police took two men into custody after a bomb scare inside a Meridian trailer park that forced residents to evacuate their homes and disrupted traffic for over six hours on Wednesday. bom Meridian Police responded to the Rose Circle Trailer Park near downtown Meridian at about 4:45 p.m. Wednesday. Police say they were investigating a tip from the FBI's Violent Crimes Task Force. Officers say they had information that 49-year-old Timothy Dale Lawrence of Meridian was in possession of an improvised explosive device, or I.E.D.   According to Meridian Police Deputy Chief Tracy Basterrechea, both the Boise Bomb Squad and the Mountain Home A.F.B. Explosive Ordinance Destruction (E.O.D.) team were called to the scene for the investigation.  Basterrechea told KTVB that experts from both teams did, in fact, discover a bomb-like device after several hours of searching with a bomb detecting robot. The device was later found to be a fake. Basterrechea said that the FBI's involvement in the case was part of a regular, ongoing investigation.   Police went on to charge Lawrence with possessing a fake or "hoax" destructive device late Wednesday night.   Officers also arrested 46-year-old Jesse Ray Delgado for possession of methamphetamine in relation to the same incident.  The bomb scare disrupted traffic and caused general panic throughout Wednesday evening. Dozens of residents were evacuated, and the intersection at Franklin and Meridian roads near the trailer park was shut down for over six hours Wednesday evening.  Police eventually allowed residents to return to their homes at around 11:30 p.m. Wednesday night.   In a Thursday morning news release, Basterrechea said that FBI agents had evidence that Lawrence made claims threatening to activate the hoax device and "take out" law enforcement.  Timothy Lawrence could face up to five years in prison if found guilty of possessing a felony hoax device.