Suspect Who Caused Scare at LLUMC Booked for Making False Bomb Threat

A man who allegedly claimed he had an explosive device attached to his body Thursday morning in the Loma Linda University Medical Center emergency room was publicly identified Friday as Nick Huerta, 44, a San Bernardino transient.

Huerta was released from Arrowhead Regional Medical Center about 11 a.m. Friday, taken to West Valley Detention Center and booked on suspicion of making a false bomb threat, which is a felony offense, a sheriff's spokeswoman said.

Huerta had been at Arrowhead Regional in Colton for a mental health evaluation after the incident Thursday morning in Loma Linda.

Hospital spokesman Herbert Atienza issued a statement about evacuations and other measures taken at Loma Linda University Medical Center during the bomb scare.

"At approximately 8 a.m., Thursday, May 3, a male entered the Loma Linda University Medical Center Emergency Department (ED) requesting medical assistance," Atienza said. "He advised staff he had an explosive device. ED doctors confirmed the patient was carrying some type of device."

Sheriff's dispatch received a request for assistance at 9:18 a.m. from security at the hospital's emergency room, sheriff's officials said.

"At that time, the patient was removed from the ED to the ED parking lot, accompanied by appropriate medical personnel where he was evaluated," Atienza said. "The ED lobby and parking lot was immediately evacuated, and a perimeter was created.

"Local police, fire and bomb squad responded to the scene," Atienza said. "The West side of the campus was evacuated – Barton and Campus St, North to University, including the LLU School of Pharmacy and Nursing, and the Global Health Institute.

"The bomb squad completed their evaluation and determined there was a suspicious device, which was recovered from the patient and deemed to be non-explosive," Atienza said. "At approximately 11 a.m. the evacuation order was lifted and the campus was deemed clear and is in full operation. We have resumed admitting patients to the ED."

The patient, later identified as Huerta, was held Friday afternoon at West Valley Detention Center on $25,000 bail, and he has a court appearance scheduled Tuesday May 8, a sheriff's spokeswoman said.

The Sheriff's Department declined to release Huerta's booking photo because "it does not meet the criteria of 'aiding in the investigation' 'public service announcement' or 'looking for additional victims,'" Jodi Miller of the sheriff's Public Affairs Division said.

For the Redlands-Loma Linda Patch breaking news report from Thursday .