Threatening emails sent to the White House were traced back to Middle Tennessee, prompting the Murfreesboro Police Department to open.
Murfreesboro detectives have been working the case at the request of federal authorities in Washington, D.C.
A special agent with the CIA took the threats seriously and opened an investigation. The agent traced the source to Murfreesboro, Tennessee and contacted the police.
"We received a call from federal authorities in Washington, D.C. that one of our Murfreesboro residents made threats through an e-mail to the White House," said Sgt. Kyle Evans with the Murfreesboro Police Dept.
The sender wrote, among other things, in the e-mail "... that he would blow up Washington, D.C. because he was a veteran and no one took care of him."
"The threats were very specific in nature to blow up parts of Washington, D.C.," said Evans.
Officers quickly responded to a home address provided by the special agent. They found the suspect was a veteran. He told them he badly needed assistance.
"From a local standpoint we are more concerned with getting him help and connecting him with mental health system he needs," said Evans.
"Sometimes it's just a moment of desperation. Maybe he tried to reach out for help and couldn't get what he needed," said Ernesto Rodriguez, a veterans advocate.
Last year, he walked across the country to raise awareness of PTSD and suicide. Rodriguez was glad to see Murfreeboro Police handled the troubled veteran with understanding instead of an arrest.
"It's good the police went in there investigated and got the help he needed instead of just reacting, " said Rodriguez.
Sgt. Evans said there's no indication the veteran would follow through with his threat.
Instead of arresting him, they recognized a veteran in need and took steps to help him. The veteran in Murfreesboro was taken for a mental evaluation and then provided benefits and care through the VA.
