Man Arrested After 11-Minute Bomb Threat Against OC Jail: OCSD

IRVINE, CA— One man was arrested for one felony count of making criminal threats after he called the Orange County Sheriff’s Department (OCSD) claiming to possess explosive devices and intending to use them at multiple OCSD facilities.

"On Wednesday July 18, 2018, at approximately 11:25 p.m. a man later identified as Pejman Zanjani, 39, of Irvine, called OCSD’s dispatch center," OCSD spokesperson Carrie Braun said in release. "During an 11-minute call, Zanjani made at least two bomb-related threats toward the Orange County jail system."

OCSD initiated an immediate investigation. The Sheriff’s Hazardous Devices Squad (HDS) responded to all Orange County jails and conducted exterior searches with the assistance of trained explosive-detection canines. Patrol units and deputies at the jails initiated frequent patrol checks in and around the jails to look for suspicious activity.

On Saturday July 21, 2018, at approximately 1:00 a.m. Zanjani called OCSD dispatch again, and made a second bomb threat toward the dispatch center. During this call, Zanjani and his residence in the city of Irvine were identified. A search and arrest warrant were obtained for Zanjani and residence.

On Monday July 23, 2018, at approximately 7 a.m. Zanjani exited his residence and was detained, Braun said.

Once the residence was deemed safe by HDS, Sheriff’s teams from the North Investigations, Tactical Apprehension Team, Custody Operations, and North Directed Enforcement Teams assisted in the search and scene security. As a result of the investigation, Zanjani was arrested and booked into Orange County jail.

He is being held on $100,000 bail and is expected to be arraigned on Wednesday, Braun said.

We’d like to thank the Irvine Police Department for their assistance in scene security and traffic control in the areas surrounding the residence.

OCSD takes threats to the public very seriously. Threats of this nature require a large response and a great deal of resources to ensure that our community remains a safe place to live and work. Making a threat of intent to harm is a crime, and OCSD will work diligently to hold individuals who make these threats accountable for their actions.

OCSD booking photo