Victorville turned into a scene straight out of a cop show Thursday when deputies rushed to investigate a series of threatening phone calls aimed at the local courthouse and government center. 44-year-old Riverside resident Thomas Walsh was arrested the same day, suspected of making the hostile calls that had the community on edge, according to the SBSD - Victorville Police Department.
Detectives from the Victorville Station received alerts at about 9 a.m. on Thursday, April 11, about criminal threats made via phone. The targeted locations, including a United States Congressman’s office, were put on high alert. Within 5 hours, Walsh, whose history of menacing government agencies precedes him, was nabbed in San Bernardino by the deputies.
Upon his arrest, Walsh faced a swift ride to the West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga, awaiting a pre-medical clearance before being booked. Reports detail Walsh’s attempted communications with the Victorville District Attorney's Office and a Congressman's office during his threatening spree. A news release from Sheriff-Coroner Shannon D. Dicus cited the "immediate reporting to law enforcement" as crucial in Walsh’s identification and arrest.
The Victorville Police, now digging deeper into the case, are calling on the public for further information. Individuals privy to details that could anchor the ongoing investigation have been urged to contact Detective T. Loup at the Victorville Station or anonymously at the We-Tip Hotline.
