Mankato Officials: False Marathon Bomb Report Lands Man In Jail

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – Mankato officials say a 56-year-old man was arrested after he called 911, saying he'd heard there were bombs placed along the city's marathon route.

Brian Douglas Mechler allegedly called 911 on Friday, saying he got an anonymous call about four bombs that had been placed along the route, city officials said.

When police investigated, they found that Mechler never received any such phone call. Officers arrested Mechler on Saturday for probable cause of terroristic threats, and he was booked into the Nicollet County Jail.

As a precaution, Mankato Marathon organizers implemented extra security measures, including an increased number of security guards and bomb-sniffing dogs.