A 60-year-old man was being held without bail Monday for allegedly threatening to bomb or set fire to local facilities of a grassroots organization dedicated to working on behalf of the transgender and Latino/a communities.
Henry Nolkemper was arrested April 11 in connection with the alleged threats, which police say were made around 9:25 p.m. March 28.
According to the Los Angeles Police Department, a man who identified himself as “Henry” called the National Suicide Hotline that day and “made several statements regarding the TransLatin@ Coalition business in Los Angeles on Juneteenth and referenced setting their building on fire using gasoline. He also made a statement about attacking the gay pride parade in June.”
Investigators were eventually able to identify the caller as Nolkemper, and police began surveilling his home, according to the LAPD. Detectives were eventually able to contact him by phone and he surrendered to police.
He was booked on suspicion of making a false bomb threat. He was also being held on a possible probation violation, prompting his no-bail status, according to police.
Police said he was charged by the District Attorney’s Office Monday with a count of criminal threats, along with a hate crime enhancement. Prosecutors could not be immediately reached to confirm the charge.
The TransLatin@ Coalition, which celebrated its 15th anniversary this year, is headquartered in Koreatown and recently celebrated the opening of a new facility in El Monte. Organizers told the Southern California News Group that it is one of the largest trans-led organizations in the country.
The group is committed to advocating “for the betterment of transgender and Latinx communities,” group representative Jimena Sandoval told SCNG.