West Coast Community Bank and the surrounding area in downtown Monterey was evacuated on Monday, April 13, after a woman allegedly called in a bomb threat.
According to a statement from the Monterey Police Department, officers were dispatched to the bank at 300 Bonifacio Place around 2:25pm in response to the threat. The bank and surrounding businesses were evacuated and the police established a perimeter, closing the 300 block of Bonifacio Place, the 400 block of Washington Street and Adams Street.
Monterey Police searched the bank building with the assistance of the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office Explosive Detector K-9 Team and did not find any evidence of a threat. At approximately 4:45pm, the perimeter was opened and bank employees were allowed to return to work.
Monterey Police detectives immediately began an investigation into the bomb threat and identified 50-year-old Marina resident Lorena Balestreri as the suspected caller. The police obtained a warrant and arrested Balestreri at her residence for charges including making a false bomb threat and criminal threat. Balestreri was transported to Monterey City Jail, where she was later released after posting a $30,000 bail.
Balestreri could not immediately be reached for comment.