Suspect arrested for hazard threat to Ramada Inn in Junction City

50 year-old Christopher Spence has been arrested Monday on charges of aggravated criminal threat according to the Junction City Police Department.

On Monday, July 25th, police say a 911 call was received from a man using a cell phone that advised that a hazardous material had been placed in Room #123 of the Ramada Inn in Junction City.

According to police, the caller warned the material had been placed in the hotel intentionally and that the FBI was to be contacted. The call had been placed from the area of Exit 299 on I-70.

Junction City Police and Fire units were immediately dispatched to the scene and upon arrival evacuated the motel and set up a  perimeter around the motel which is located at 1133 S. Washington in Junction City. The State Fire Marshal's Office was called into assist along with the Manhattan Fire Department's Special Operations & Haz Mat Unit. A description of the suspect involved and his vehicle was put out locally and statewide. It was reported that the suspect's green pickup truck had anti-government statements on the side of the vehicle.

Shortly after the description of the vehicle was put out, Kansas Highway Patrol Troopers spotted the vehicle on I-70 near milepost 346 and initiated a felony stop on the suspect vehicle. A 50 year old man from Conway, Arkansas, was taken into custody and brought back to Junction City for questioning.

As a precaution, the Kansas Highway Patrol summoned both haz mat and bomb squad units to the scene to ensure the vehicle was safe to be towed from the area which caused I-70 to be closed.