Crime & Public Safety

Man calls in bomb threat to hospital, hopes to delay wife’s childbirth

By Melissa Carter
Nov 23, 2015

Michael Sherman Morlang, 26, was in Idaho when he found out his wife had gone into labor in Utah.

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Morlang's wife went to Sevier Valley Medical Center in Richfield, Utah for a C-section, and he knew he wasn't going to make it back in time.

So he called in a bomb threat to the hospital to delay the procedure until he got back.

The medical center evacuated everyone in the building, canceled surgeries and sent patients to other hospitals.

"The hospital evacuated everyone possible and remained on lockdown for several hours," said U.S. Attorney's Office spokeswoman Melodie Rydalch. "Individuals seeking emergency care, including patients in ambulances, had to be diverted to another hospital."

Court documents say Morlang was charged with charged in the U.S. District Court of Utah with "maliciously convey(ing) false information knowing the same to be false, concerning an attempt being made unlawfully to damage and destroy a building, by fire and an explosive." He was indicted by a federal grand jury Wednesday for the crime, which took place on Sept. 17.

Morlang could face up to 10 years in federal prison and a fine of up to $250,000.

He is currently incarcerated in Idaho on another warrant, according to Rydalch. Court records show he pleaded guilty to driving on a revoked license in January.

Read more here.

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Melissa Carter

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