Loveland Man Arrested for 2023 Bomb Threat at Larimer County Justice Center
A Loveland man was arrested November 4 in connection with a bomb threat that forced evacuation of the Larimer County Justice Center more than two years ago, following an extensive investigation by the Larimer County Sheriff's Office and FBI.
Harold West, 43, faces felony charges for allegedly placing a hoax explosive device outside the courthouse at 201 Laporte Avenue in Fort Collins on July 31, 2023. Investigators believe the fake device was intended to delay a court hearing scheduled that day.
Deputies and local law enforcement responded in the early morning hours after receiving reports of a suspicious device outside the Justice Center. The building and surrounding businesses were evacuated while the Northern Colorado Bomb Squad removed the device. Court proceedings were canceled for the remainder of the day as staff and patrons at nearby businesses sheltered in place.
Bomb technicians determined at a safe location that the device had been intentionally designed to resemble an improvised explosive, complete with wiring and road flares, but contained no actual explosives.
Two-Year Investigation Leads to Arrest
Sheriff's office investigators worked with the FBI for more than two years to identify the person responsible for placing the hoax device. Evidence eventually led them to West as the suspect.
West was booked into the Larimer County Jail on charges of attempt to influence a public servant, a class 4 felony; possession or placement of a hoax explosive device, a class 5 felony; and obstructing government operations, a class 2 misdemeanor.
Colorado law classifies placing a hoax explosive device as a class 5 felony under state statute, carrying penalties of one to three years in prison and fines up to $100,000. The charge of attempting to influence a public servant is a class 4 felony with potential sentences of two to six years in prison.
"Justice is a cornerstone of society, and protecting this process from disruption is extremely important to us," said Captain Bobby Moll, who leads the sheriff's office investigations division. "Our investigators worked together with the FBI for years to find answers in this case."
Justice Center Disruption Impacts Hundreds of Proceedings
The Larimer County Justice Center serves as the central judicial facility for the Eighth Judicial District, hosting district and county courts that handle criminal, civil, probate, juvenile and traffic cases. The building also houses the district attorney, probation and sheriff offices.
Court facilities of this size typically schedule hundreds of proceedings daily involving defendants, witnesses, jurors and attorneys. The July 31, 2023 evacuation forced postponement of all cases scheduled that day, creating cascading delays throughout the judicial system.
Large-scale court closures can cost local governments thousands of dollars in overtime for security personnel, bomb squad operations and rescheduling labor, not including lost productivity and potential impacts such as extended jail stays for detained defendants awaiting postponed hearings.
Multi-Agency Response Demonstrates Regional Coordination
The Northern Colorado Bomb Squad, operated primarily by the Larimer County Sheriff's Office in partnership with agencies from Larimer and Weld counties, responded to the incident. Squad personnel are drawn from local police and sheriff's offices and receive specialized training meeting FBI and Colorado Peace Officer Standards and Training requirements for hazardous device handling.
The sheriff's office thanked Fort Collins Police Services, Larimer County All Hazards Crisis Response Team, Loveland Police Department, Colorado State University Police, Johnstown Police Department, Poudre Fire Authority, UCHealth EMS, FBI, ATF and the Eighth Judicial District Attorney's Office for their roles in the response and investigation.
Bomb squad response protocols require first responders to secure areas and begin evacuation procedures before technicians assess devices remotely using specialized equipment. Evidence is secured for forensic examination to support prosecution.
The charges against West are accusations, and he is presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.