The MV LeConte docks at the Auke Bay Ferry Terminal with the Tazlina in the background on Monday, Aug. 10, 2020. The LeConte was present in Juneau when a bomb threat was made against it Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2021, according to the Juneau Police Department. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)

The MV LeConte docks at the Auke Bay Ferry Terminal with the Tazlina in the background on Monday, Aug. 10, 2020. The LeConte was present in Juneau when a bomb threat was made against it Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2021, according to the Juneau Police Department. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire File)

Police arrest 1 after bomb threat at ferry terminal

No bomb was located, a JPD spokesperson said.

This story has been updated following the release of new information.

Juneau Police Department officers made an arrest following bomb threat made aboard an Alaska Marine Highway System ferry Wednesday morning, said a JPD spokesperson.

Adam Jason Bahr, 39, of Juneau was arrested for assault and criminal trespass and taken to Lemon Creek Correctional Center, said Lt. Krag Campbell in a news release.

At approximately 6:20 a.m, a suspect drove past the entry control point and aboard the MV LeConte at a high rate of speed, bypassing the ship’s purser and nearly hitting another vehicle, according to a Department of Transportation and Public Facilities news release. Employees called 911 immediately, Campbell said.

“Once the truck was stationary, an unidentified man, later confirmed to be unticketed, exited the vehicle and was heard by crew “muttering about a bomb and firearms’ while trying to get back into the vehicle he had seemingly locked,” said Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities spokesperson Andy Mills in the news release. “Crew backed immediately away and executed the response plan to secure the vessel and make a plan to evacuate any personnel and passengers.”

[Police arrest man following rooftop chase]

The bomb comment was not a direct threat, Campbell said, but Bahr allegedly threatened to pull a firearm on employees if they didn’t give him space before reaching threateningly into his jacket.

JPD arrived on-scene at approximately 6:35 a.m., arresting Bahr and beginning sweeps of the vehicle and vessel. No bomb was present on the vessel.

“Bahr was unarmed at the time of contact. Bahr told police that he didn’t have a firearm and it was just a joke,” Campbell said. “Bahr also claimed to be a federal agent, which he is not.”

No immediate threat was detected in the truck at that time, Mills said. The captain of the LeConte halted the crew’s evacuation, as additional assets from the Coast Guard arrived and assisted in sweeping the vessel and surrounding area for additional unidentified threats.

An animal control specialist arrived at 7:30 a.m. to assist with a dog left in the vehicle by Bahr, Mills said. At about 8 a.m., Bahr’s vehicle was towed off the vessel. The vessel has subsequently been cleared by the Coast Guard as secure.

The LeConte was the only ferry present at the Auke Bay Ferry Terminal Wednesday morning, scheduled to sail that morning. The nine bookings scheduled to sail to Pelican, the LeConte’s next destination,have been rescheduled for Feb. 13, Mills said.

• Contact reporter Michael S. Lockett at (757) 621-1197 or mlockett@juneauempire.com.

More in News

(Juneau Empire File)
Aurora forecast for the week of Nov. 27

These forecasts are courtesy of the University of Alaska Fairbanks’ Geophysical Institute… Continue reading

Girls teams face off on the twin courts of the main gym at Juneau-Douglas Yadaa.at Kalé High School during the Juneau Invitational Volleyball Extravaganza on Oct. 15, 2022. The Juneau Board of Education on Friday unanimously voted to seek advice from outside council on a new state policy banning transgender girls from high school sports teams. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
School board unanimously votes to seek outside legal advice on new statewide transgender sports ban

Juneau reportedly first district to take step that may lead to lawsuit challenging policy.

A Capital City Fire/Rescue truck parks outside the main entrance of the Riverview Senior Living complex Monday after Nathan Bishop, 58, is found alive in the attic 40 hours after being reported missing from the facility where he is a resident. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
State reviewing Riverview Senior Living after missing resident found in attic 40 hours later

Officials unaware of similar cases in Alaska; facility says steps to prevent such incidents underway

Search and rescue officials examine the area about 11 miles south of the center of Wrangell where a landslide occurred on Nov. 20. Five people are confirmed dead from the landslide and one still missing. (Photo courtesy of Alaska Department of Public Safety)
Body of fifth Wrangell landslide victim found; one person still missing

Otto Florschutz, 65, found Thursday evening; Derek Heller, 12, still missing among family of five.

Varieties of kelp are seen underwater. A U.S. Department of Energy-funded project will investigate whether kelp and other seaweed in the waters off Alaska’s Prince of Wales Island can absorb significant amounts of rare earth elements that leach out from the Bokan Mountain site. (National Marine Sanctuary photo provided by NOAA)
Federally funded project will search for rare earth elements in Southeast Alaska seaweed

What if prized rare earth elements could be extracted from seaweed, avoiding… Continue reading

Angie Flick (center), finance director for the City and Borough of Juneau, provides details of an early draft of next year’s municipal budget to Assembly members as City Manager Katie Koester (left) and Budget Manager Adrien Wendel listen during a Finance Committee meeting Wednesday night in the Assembly Chambers. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Assembly members prepare to retreat so they can move ahead on next year’s budget

“Very draft” $190 million spending plan for FY25 based on status quo has $1 million deficit.

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
Police calls for Monday, Nov. 27, 2023

This report contains public information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

The front page of the Juneau Empire on Nov. 30, 2005. (Photo by Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Empire Archives: Juneau’s history for the week of Dec. 3

Three decades of capital city coverage.

Cheyenne Latu (left), a pharmacy technician at Ron’s Apothecary Shoppe, and business co-owner Gretchen Watts hang a poster at the front counter Thursday announcing the store’s closure after Dec. 6 as Jessica Kirtley, another pharmacy technician, works at the front register. The nearby Safeway supermarket has agreed to take the prescriptions of all customers as well as hire all of the independent pharmacy’s employees, according to the co-owners who are retiring. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Ron’s Apothecary Shoppe closing after nearly 50 years as co-owners retire; last day is Dec. 6

Safeway taking over all prescriptions and offering jobs to all employees, according to owners.

Most Read