A Western Collegiate Hockey Association referee who was arrested on state and federal charges Sunday after allegedly making a comment about a bomb in a bag at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport has been "suspended indefinitely," the association said Monday.
Men's referee Pete Friesema, a 44-year-old from Highland Ranch, Colo. who was visiting Anchorage to help referee a University of Alaska Anchorage hockey tournament, has been suspended pending a review of the incident by the WCHA.
"The WCHA will have no comment on this matter until all the facts have been gathered and the investigation completed," the association wrote.
Passengers at the airport were forced to evacuate the terminal early Sunday morning while authorities searched the terminal for any sign of explosives.
More than 1,000 departing passengers were affected, according to airport officials. Approximately six flights were delayed, with a few additional flights being impacted upon arrival.
According to the Associated Press, the main terminal was cleared after Friesema's luggage sticker was put on a friend's luggage, and he allegedly said the bag had a bomb in it.
Travelers were immediately evacuated to another airport terminal while police and FBI searched all luggage. No explosives were found.
The FBI interviewed Friesema, along with his two male traveling companions. He was arrested on state charges and arraigned in Anchorage Sunday afternoon.
Editor's note: An inaccurate initial reference to Friesema facing federal charges has been removed.
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