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Man Arrested After Bomb Threat On Bus

LOVELAND, Colo. (CBS4)- Police in Loveland investigated a bomb threat on a bus Wednesday morning. One man was arrested after no explosives were found.

The buses were on their way from Salt Lake City to Denver with a stop in Fort Collins. Police stopped the buses at about 5:15 a.m. at The Ranch in Loveland after learning of the bomb threat.

"There must have been about 20 police cars behind the second bus. I mean, it was amazing. I mean in my 58 years, I've never seen anything like it," said passenger Joel Marin.

Passengers were evacuated from the buses and had to wait while the vehicles were searched by the bomb squad and a robot. All 96 passengers were questioned by police.

"They pulled us over, got us all off the bus, and basically kinda detained us and tried to sort everything out and went through everyone's luggage, and made sure everyone was safe and then they sent us down here," said Marin.

"A robot was deployed, bomb squad technicians then went in and X-rayed any suspicious packages. Nothing suspicious was indicated, however, they then go in and do a physical inspection and lastly a K-9 out of Jefferson County, specially trained in bomb detection was deployed," said Larimer County Sheriff's Office spokesman Nick Christensen.

Everyone was allowed to return to the buses at about 10 a.m. at which time they continued to Denver.

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(credit: CBS)

According to the Larimer County Sheriff's Office, a transient from California, Roland Paul Arel, made some sort of threat on the bus while en route to Denver. Another passenger overheard the statement and called police.

That's when the buses were directed to The Ranch by law enforcement where Arel, 66, was taken into custody.

"He was on the second bus that was behind us. But I was saying earlier, I wanted to thank the law enforcement agencies of Colorado. They all did a great job. The bus drivers did a great job. They were calm, cool and collected protecting us and the citizens of Colorado," said passenger Jamie Herron.

The Larimer County Sheriff's Office is trying to determine a motive for the threat. They are working with the DA's office on which charges Arel could face.

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