Las Cruces Police charge man with felony in store bomb threat

Las Cruces Police have arrested a man who claimed to have explosives.

Robert Schaffer, 44, who polive believe is homeless, is charged with one count of intentionally delivering a facsimile or hoax bomb. The offense is a fourth-degree felony. He is being held without bond.

Shortly after 6 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 19, Las Cruces Police were sent to the Staples office supply store at 2260 E. Lohman Ave. on a call about a possible explosive device.

Police say that a man, later identified as Schaffer, entered the store, handed a bag to an employee and indicated that it contained a bomb. Schaffer then continued into the store where he was seen walking the aisles.

Officers located and detained Schaffer a short while later.

The store was evacuated along with other nearby businesses. A K-9 explosives detection team from the New Mexico State University Police Department and the Dona Ana County Sheriff’s Office Bomb Squad were called in. It was subsequently determined that the bag did not contain a bomb or explosive device.

No injuries were reported.

Schaffer was booked into the Dona Ana County Detention Center where he is initially being held without bond.

FBI and ATF agents responded to the incident and will continue to assist with the investigations of all such threats.