Arrest In Bomb Threat At City Hall, Police HQ In Union City

UNION CITY, CA – Union City police have arrested a 37-year-old Hayward man who allegedly became upset with staff at city hall late this morning and made incoherent comments suggesting that he might have had a bomb in his bag.

Police learned of the situation around 11:49 a.m. and evacuated the building the police department shares with city hall in the 3400 block of Alvarado-Niles Road. The suspect, Eleno Sinay, was escorted outside and
detained by police.

"He got upset for some reason and then made mention that he had a possible bomb," Sgt. Steve Mendez said. "Since the Police Department is downstairs we went up and detained him immediately."

With help from the Alameda County Sheriff's Office's bomb squad and BART police, authorities checked Sinay's bag. By around 1:50 p.m., they determined that it didn't contain any kind of explosive device.

Sinay was arrested for making a false report of a bomb as well as an outstanding misdemeanor warrant.

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PREVIOUS: WEDNESDAY, OCT, 25, 2:43 p.m.

Union City police have declared the scene all clear after evacuating City Hall and the Police Department, which share the same building, late this morning because of a disgruntled customer who told municipal workers that he might have a bomb.

The threat was reported around 11:45 a.m. in the 34000 block of Alvarado-Niles Road, according to Sgt. Steve Mendez.

"He got upset for some reason and then made mention that he had a possible bomb," Mendez said. "Since the Police Department's downstairs, we went up and detained him immediately."

By 1:50 p.m., the bomb squad had checked the package and determined that it didn't contain any kind of explosive device.

The person in question had not yet been arrested as of roughly 2 p.m., and law enforcement officials were working to determine whether a crime was committed.

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PREVIOUS: WEDNESDAY, OCT. 25, 2:03 p.m.

Union City police evacuated City Hall and the Police Department, which share the same building, after a disgruntled customer told municipal workers that he might have a bomb late this morning.

The threat was reported around 11:45 a.m. in the 34000 block of Alvarado-Niles Road, according to Sgt. Steve Mendez.

"He got upset for some reason and then made mention that he had a possible bomb," Mendez said. "Since the Police Department's downstairs, we went up and detained him immediately."

"Now we have the suspected device in a bag," Mendez said. "We left (it) upstairs and now we're waiting for the bomb squad to check it out."

The person in question has not yet been arrested or charged with any crime, Mendez said around 1:30 p.m.

City services which are typically available at the front counters of City Hall and the Police Department will be available again when those offices reopen.

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--Bay City news contributed to this report/Photo by Shutterstock