WEST DES MOINES, IOWA — A Fourth of July celebration in West Des Moines nearly took a dangerous turn when a man allegedly called 911 threatening to drive his motorcycle into a crowd of parade attendees. The suspect, identified as 23-year-old Ascher Urquhart-McDonald of Ankeny, has been charged with threat of terrorism, according to local authorities.
Disturbing 911 Call Sparks Investigation
The incident unfolded on July 3, just one day before the holiday parade. Officials say Urquhart-McDonald contacted Westcom Dispatch around 7 p.m. to complain about traffic on Grand Avenue. But what began as a traffic grievance quickly escalated into a potential public safety threat.
In the call, Urquhart-McDonald allegedly said there was “a big crowd of people and a bunch of police officers that I’m about to go plowing into if I don’t get answers,” according to court records reported by We Are Iowa.
Motorcyclist Taken Into Custody
Following the threat, investigators discovered Urquhart-McDonald was riding a motorcycle when he made the alarming statement. He was arrested shortly after by West Des Moines police and taken to the Polk County Jail, where he remains in custody on a $5,000 bond.
Fortunately, no one was injured and no acts of violence occurred during the Independence Day festivities. Police confirmed that crowd safety was never breached, though the threat was taken very seriously.
Authorities Stress Safety in Event Planning
City officials said preparations for next year’s parade are already underway, with public safety remaining a top priority.
“Safety is at the front of the line when we are planning these large events,” said Sgt. Dan Wade. “We look at the logistics of previous events here in West Des Moines. We also look at lessons learned from other events across the country.”
Urquhart-McDonald is scheduled to appear in court for a preliminary hearing on August 11, where he will face the felony charge related to his threatening call.
A City of West Des Moines statement reaffirmed the city’s commitment to keeping large-scale community events secure and family-friendly.
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