Suspect Who Used Blast Threat To Hold Off Police Surrenders

A forgery suspect who forced the evacuation of more than 100 homes by threatening to set off a bomb in a trailer park surrendered to police Sunday.

Police acting on a tip moved in to arrest Larry A. Kemp, wanted on forgery charges in neighboring Cass County, on Saturday. As officers approached, he warned them off, saying he’d detonate an explosive, Lt. Neil Snelling said.

The police sealed off the trailer park and evacuated about 140 mobile homes. The residents of a nearby nursing home were asked to keep to the east side of their building, away from the trailer park.

After his surrender, Kemp, although unharmed, was taken to Passavant Area Hospital for examination. State authorities said Kemp had explosive material in the home.