Charge filed for alleged false bomb threat

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SIBLEY, Iowa — Charges have been filed in Osceola County against a Worthington man who allegedly called in a bomb threat at Exopac.

Matthew William Taylor, 35, of Worthington, faces one count of falsely reporting a bomb threat, a class “D” felony.

According to Osceola County Sheriff Doug Weber, Taylor works for Specialized Vocational Services, who contracts workers to the Exopac facility, where packaging for other companies is made. Taylor was at work when he allegedly called 911 at 9:35 p.m. Wednesday and reported a bomb in the factory.

“I had deputies respond, and they went out and notified Exopac,” Weber said. “The plant shut down, and everyone was evacuated.”

Because Taylor had allegedly called 911, the call was recorded and the telephone number of the caller displayed.

“We were able to determine who the number came back to,” Weber explained. “We made contact with him very quickly. We brought him to the sheriff’s office and interviewed him and were able to determine it was a bogus call.”

While Taylor was being interviewed, several witnesses were also talking to law enforcement.

The plant was shut down during the evacuation, but when the next shift came in at midnight production was ready to start again. If authorities were not able to determine so quickly the call did not involve a real bomb, the next step would have been to bring in personnel and possibly dogs to search the facility.

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