Ex-employee’s ‘terroristic’ bomb threat locks down 911 center in New Mexico, feds say

A former 911 dispatcher faces charges after federal officials say he posted “terroristic threats” toward his ex-workplace online.

Jason Rivera, 53, of Las Cruces made the threats in several Facebook posts, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico said in a news release.

Rivera resigned from his job at the Mesilla Valley Regional Dispatch Authority in September 2020 following “harassment of former colleagues and erratic incidents leading to disciplinary actions,” prosecutors said. He had worked there for eight years.

His defense attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment from McClatchy News on Nov. 25.

In April, Rivera made posts to Facebook about explosives at the facility and threats against his former co-workers, prosecutors said.

A post reporting a bomb at the facility resulted in a lockdown and search by the Dona Ana County Sheriff’s Office, prosecutors said.

Rivera also registered a website named killdonaanacounty.org, prosecutors said.

He faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted, prosecutors said.

Las Cruces is about a 220-mile drive south of Albuquerque.

This story was originally published November 25, 2024 at 4:29 PM with the headline "Ex-employee’s ‘terroristic’ bomb threat locks down 911 center in New Mexico, feds say."