HORACE LANGFORD JR. / PVT Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department responded to the landfill bomb threat with two bomb units and several K-9 units. In the foreground are Dep.'s Kay Cee Otteson, left, and Bear Smith. Advertisement

Wednesday about 3 p.m., a phone call from the weigh station attendant at the landfill alerted the Nye County Sheriff's Office of a possible bomb.

According to Nye County Sheriff Tony DeMeo, "A man threw an ice chest into the weigh station and told the attendant it was an explosive device."

The suspect, Anthony Tadero, of Pahrump, was apprehended at the Horizon Market on Simpkins and Blagg Roads around 4 p.m.

It was believed at the time that the cooler contained dynamite when the suspect drove away in his older model Toyota van covered with political stickers. Following standard protocol, DeMeo notified the Hazardous Device Response Team in Las Vegas. In addition to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department the FBI also responded to the scene.

In fact, the cooler was full of fireworks.

The capture of Tadero did not end the day for the first responders. Nearby residents and Pahrump Valley Disposal employees were evacuated from their homes and the scene was not cleared until about 7:30 p.m. according to DeMeo. A debriefing session after the incident took an additional hour and a half for team members.

John Shea, vice president of Pahrump Valley Disposal, said it was "business as usual" Wednesday. "As soon as we got clearance to go back on site that evening, we went into the office," he said.

Just after the incident was reported, sheriff's deputies and Nevada Highway Patrol troopers blocked the entrance to Mesquite Avenue at Highway 160 with their patrol cars to prevent traffic from entering the road to the dump.

Aid was requested from Las Vegas Metro Police Department and officers with K-9 partners responded. About 4 p.m., the LVMPD's massive red bomb truck arrived with more K-9 patrols.

NHP troopers stopped traffic to let the vehicles driven by the evacuated employees and residents coming down from the site onto Highway 160. Highway drivers were already slowing down due to the general congestion and flashing lights but in several cases appeared not to see the NHP trooper, who had only his arm out in front of him to halt approaching vehicles. However, the trooper stood his ground.

In one case, he made a fist at the end of his extended arm and said, "Stop." The car stopped mere inches in front of him.

At press time, it is not clear whether Tadero is in custody. DeMeo said his department is looking at sending information to the Nye County District Attorney's Office to consider charges.

At present, DeMeo said Tadero will be held for causing a disturbance in a public place. Additional charges could be levied after the investigation of the incident is complete.

When asked if the incident might have been due to the controversial Pahrump Town Ordinance No. 43, concerning trash pickup and disposal, DeMeo said he did not know.