California mall evacuated after explosive claim that toilet painted with skulls was a bomb

A California mall was evacuated after a 22-year-old man allegedly left a toilet painted with skulls and claimed it had a bomb inside.

Around 8 p.m. on Thursday, Timothy Taratchila reportedly placed a toilet outside The Americana at Brand shopping center in Glendale, California. The suspicious-looking toilet was painted red, had two skulls drawn on it, and had the word "attempt" written on it.

The Glendale Police Department stated, "An object resembling a toilet was left on the property, along with a note indicating the object was a bomb."

The mall in Los Angeles County was evacuated over the bomb threat.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Bomb Squad was deployed to the mall to investigate the potentially explosive toilet. Helicopter video shows an officer wearing an explosive ordnance disposal suit or a blast suit as he investigates the toilet.

After three hours, the bomb squad determined that the toilet was not a threat and gave the all-clear at 11:04 p.m.

Detectives were reportedly able to identify Taratchila as the bomb threat suspect through surveillance footage and tips from witnesses at the mall. On Thursday night, police arrested Taratchila, of Burbank. He was charged with making a false bomb threat and was being held at the Glendale Police Department in lieu of $15,000 bail.

"Earlier this evening, a suspicious item and note were left at The Americana at Brand. As part of our security protocols, our team immediately contacted the Glendale Police Department who swiftly arrived on site, secured the area and cleared the item," said Caruso properties, the owner of The Americana at Brand shopping mall.

"As a result of our significant investment in security measures, we were able to quickly assist the GPD in identifying and locating a suspect who was then arrested," Caruso told KNBC in a statement.

The representative for Caruso properties noted that the company does “not tolerate criminal activity on our properties" and was taking "every step necessary" to ensure the safety of shoppers, vendors, and the community.

"Thank you to our law enforcement partners, LASD, for their assistance with determining the device was safe and to the Burbank Police Department for assisting with locating the suspect," the city of Glendale said in a statement.

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