2 arrested for Jackson bomb threat

A bomb threat in Jackson was a ploy to get officers to tackle a man so he could fake an injury and sue, police said.

Duane H. Haffner, 23, and Leotis S. Allen, 21, both of Jackson, were charged Thursday with making a terroristic threat, a felony that carries a maximum penalty of seven years in prison.

Both were in Cape Girardeau County Jail on Thursday, each with a $50,000 cash-only bond.

According to the probable-cause statement, Haffner called Jackson police anonymously Wednesday afternoon, saying he had information that a black man walking with a limp would be taking a bomb to the county courthouse in Jackson at 9 a.m. Thursday. Haffner reportedly described the clothing the man would be wearing down to a Timberland black hoodie and said he would be concealing a bomb in his shoe.

Two Jackson police detectives recognized Haffner's voice from a tape recording made of the call, the report said.

Police found Haffner Thursday at the Gibson Recovery Center, a Cape Girardeau drug and alcohol treatment center, the report said.

Haffner reportedly admitted to police he made the call at the direction of Allen, who provided him with a phone card and written directions on what to say.

The plan was that Allen -- without any bomb -- would go to the courthouse Thursday morning dressed as described in the telephone tip, the report said. When police put their hands on Allen, he would fake an injury that would result in a civil lawsuit against officers and government agencies.

Allen reportedly agreed to pay Haffner $25 to make the call and split the proceeds from the lawsuit with him.

Police located Allen at the same treatment center and arrested him Thursday.

At first, Allen denied knowledge of the plot, the probable-cause statement said, but eventually admitted he was going to get tackled by officers at the courthouse "about the bomb that Duane was talking about" and get paid.

Allen had misdemeanor traffic and drug convictions in 2004 and a felony burglary conviction in 2006. He is currently facing charges of driving with a revoked license, possession of marijuana, speeding and owning, operating or authorizing another to drive without maintaining financial responsibility. All are misdemeanor charges. Allen was scheduled to appear before Associate Circuit Judge Gary Kamp on those charges Monday.

In 2003, Haffner was convicted of felony child endangerment and misdemeanor possession of marijuana and unlawful use of drug paraphernalia.

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