Suspect in ferry bombing scare faces arraignment this week

By BEN WATANABE
South Whidbey Record Sports, South Whidbey School District, South Whidbey Fire/EMS
January 31, 2012 · 10:35 AM

The man accused threatening to set off a bomb on a Washington state ferry is expected to appear for an arraignment hearing this week.

Michael William Harsh, 32, was arrested Thursday, Jan. 26 after stepping off the M/V Cathlamet in Mukilteo. Authorities claim Harsh, a former Langley resident, was heard talking about a bomb after the ferry sailed from Clinton on the 8:30 a.m. run.

Harsh made his first appearance Friday in Snohomish County Superior Court. His bail, previously set at $25,000, was reduced to $10,000 and he remains in custody at the Snohomish County Jail in Everett.

Harsh, now an Everett resident, has until 5 p.m. Tuesday to post bail.

An arraignment hearing on a felony charge of making a bomb threat is expected to follow on Wednesday or Thursday.

The bomb threat shut down the ferry route for more than two hours. The Washington State Patrol arrived to inspect the ferry and terminal with K-9 units. A bomb squad examined Harsh's backpack but found it did not contain explosives.

Contact South Whidbey Record Sports, South Whidbey School District, South Whidbey Fire/EMS Ben Watanabe at bwatanabe@whidbeynewsgroup.com or 360-221-5300.

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