Felony charges to man who made threats to MI Capitol building

LANSING, Mich. — Michigan State Police have made an arrest in connection to the bomb threat to Michigan’s Capitol Building on Thursday morning.

Michael Varrone, 48, of Charlotte, Mich. was arrested without incident outside of his home on Friday. Varrone was charged with two counts of false report or threat of terrorism, a 20-year felony; and one count of false report or threat of bomb/harmful device, a four-year felony. One count of false report or threat of terrorism is related to a phone call Varrone allegedly made in December in which he threatened the life of state Rep. Cynthia Johnson. The other two charges stem from Thursday’s reported bomb threat.

MSP says Varrone reportedly called the Michigan House of Representatives six times and on at least one occasion threatened the life of Rep. Johnson and her family members, according to the complaint.

According to the Director of Operations at the Capitol Building, the threat was received around 6:45 a.m. Thursday, and the information was turned over to the MSP who began working to clear the grounds. The building was deemed safe a few hours later and the investigation continued until earlier today.