Suspect arrested related to Aims Community College incident

Published on February 23, 2024

Suspect arrested on suspicion of false reporting of explosives related to Aims Community College incident

[Greeley, CO]- On Feb. 13, 2024, at approximately 9:54 pm an unidentified male called into dispatch and said there was a bomb going to detonate at the Aims Community College Campus. When the dispatcher tried to get more information, the male caller said he had to leave because he wasn’t going to blow up and disconnected from the dispatcher. WCSO deputies, along with the Weld County Sheriff’s Office Strike team, responded and evacuated all of the students and staff from the area and conducted interior searches of the buildings as well as exterior searches of the property. No explosives were found on the campus.

Dispatch noted the male caller said he heard two males talking about a “cluster” and “I don’t want to sound like a racist, but they weren’t white. Look Middle Eastern.”

A deputy contacted the unidentified male caller via text message and the male said his name was “David” but stopped communicating with the deputy.

The Strike team followed up on investigative leads for this incident and were able to determine the suspect’s specific location. On Feb. 15, 2024, the Strike team contacted the property owner, who advised the suspect was staying in the basement of his house. Members of the Strike Team were allowed into the residence by the property owner, and the suspect was taken into custody. The suspect was identified as 39-year-old, David Gildea. Gildea was arrested on suspicion of the following crimes:

False Report of Explosives, Weapons, Harmful Substance (a class six felony)

Obstructing Governmental Operations (a class two misdemeanor)

Resisting Arrest (a class two misdemeanor)

Obstructing Peace Officer (a class two misdemeanor)

“These types of incidents are extremely dangerous, and often times difficult to solve. This suspect should be dealt with by the full strength of the court system,” said Sheriff Steve Reams.

All charges are merely accusations, and a defendant is presumed innocent until, and unless proven guilty in a court of law.