Sheriff: SC man threatened to blow up Iowa motel

ATLANTIC, Iowa (AP) - A South Carolina man faces charges after officials say he threatened to blow up a western Iowa motel.

Cass County Sheriff Darby McLaren says about 50 people were evacuated from the American Best Value Inn in Atlantic early Saturday after a man told the front desk he was going to blow up the motel.

McLaren says 21-year-old James Allen is charged with threat of terrorism, threat of arson, threat of explosive device, harassment and public intoxication.

The sheriff didn't immediately know Allen's hometown.

McLaren says Allen, who made some suicidal threats, never checked into the motel. Authorities used a robot to search his car in the parking lot, and no explosives were found.

The sheriff says Allen posted bail and was released Monday from the Cass County jail.

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Information from: KJAN-AM, http://www.kjan.com

Copyright 2009 The Associated Press.