Fargo Man Arrested After Bomb Threat at South Fargo Apartment Buildings

FARGO, N.D. — People are back in their south Fargo apartments after a bomb threat early this morning.

One man is in custody.

“Fire alarms start going off and police start banging on doors,” said Sheyenne, who lives at one of the evacuated buildings. “We thought it was a joke again because they went off earlier in the night. Well, we come out and they order us to go into Hornbacher’s. I had no idea what was going on for four hours.”

Fargo Police were called out to 42nd Street South at 1:45 Monday morning about a man damaging vehicles and pulling fire alarms at multiple apartment buildings.

Police say they found the suspect, Dustin Depiano, in the basement of Dakota Manor Apartments carrying a cell phone with wires connected to his backpack and a small butane tank in an outer pouch.

Dustin Depiano

Depiano said his backpack had a bomb inside as police were taking him into custody.

The backpack was left behind as the police left the building.

The Red River Valley SWAT Bomb Team responded to the threat and determined the contents of the backpack were not an explosive device.

“It did workout well that we had a place that we could put people because you don’t always have that option,” said Sgt. Matt Ysteboe.

“Honestly, the moods are down, but I’ve been trying to pick people up by telling jokes and everything,” said Scott Halmrast, who was also asked to leave his apartment. “That’s the only thing I can do to keep me going.”

Even though the crime scene has been cleared, there are still many cars in the parking lot that have flattened tires.

“He deserves everything that he’s going to get,” said Sheyenne. “He has no right to do something like this.”

People say it’s not just the inconvenience, but the cost that has them shaking their fists at the situation.

“Nothing I can really do,” added Sheyenne. “I’m a broke-out-of-college student.”

Depiano was also wanted on an outstanding warrant.