Florida man arrested for making airport bomb threat
Fred Gray, 42, was arrested on Thursday at Orlando International Airport for yelling 'it's about to explode' during a visit by Mike Pence
A man from Florida was arrested on Thursday at Orlando International Airport for yelling 'it's about to explode' during a visit by Vice President Mike Pence.
Fred Gray, 42, allegedly went up to a woman at the information desk at 5pm and said: 'You see this backpack? It's about to explode. It's about to explode' according to WKMG.
People in the airport heard Gray screaming and they started to run away.
The incident may have occurred during Pence's visit, but Gray insisted he didn't care about his presence.
Reports also say that Gray said he doesn't like 'those people.'
Several minutes later Gray allegedly asked a security agent if he could ship a package somewhere to which the agent said no.
Gray then said: 'Yeah, I've got to get this bag checked in before it explodes.'
Gray is charged with two counts of making a false bomb threat and is currently at Orange county jail - the judge set his bond at $4,000
The agent told him there was nowhere to ship anything in the airport, to which Gray responded: 'Retarded but OK.'
The 42-year-old tried to defend himself to police as he told them it was a free country and he has free speech.
According to the affidavit Gray claims he did say his bag was going to explode but he simply meant his bag was so full he thought his things would fall out.
Eventually Gray's backpack was confiscated so a K-9 unit could sniff it out but they didn't find any explosives.
Fred Gray, 42, allegedly went up to a woman at the information desk at 5 p.m. and said: 'You see this backpack? It's about to explode. It's about to explode'
Mike Pence waves to supporters before assisting volunteers working on the relief effort for the Puerto Rico victims of Hurricane Maria
Gray is charged with two counts of making a false bomb threat and is currently at Orange county jail.
The judge set his bond at $4,000.
Pence and Panama President Juan Carlos Varela were both at the airport when Gray reportedly made the comments.
They're in town for the Hurricane Maria survivors who had to flee Puerto Rico following the devastating storm.
Vice President Mike Pence and Panama President Juan Carlos Varela were both at the airport when Gray reportedly made the comments