Grand Junction police say the report of a death threat against U.S. Rep. John Salazar turned out to be “unfounded.”

The threat reportedly had been made outside Salazar’s Grand Junction office Aug. 24 as health care reform opponents and supporters squared off.

“People who witnessed the interaction between the man who made the complaint and the suspect confirmed they never heard any direct threats made regarding Congressman Salazar,” said Kate Porras, spokeswoman for the Grand Junction police.

“Also, a (Grand Junction police officer) in close proximity when the interaction took place never heard any direct threats made against Salazar by the suspect,” she said.

Asked whether the person filing the report faced any kind of charge, such as filing a false report, Porras said, “Not at this time. We don’t have any information to show the person who filed the report intentionally gave us false information.”

Salazar’s spokesman, Eric Wortman, said the staff had no idea police were investigating a threat report until police stopped by their office four days later with a copy of the report and a picture of the suspect. Police did not know the suspect’s name, but the person filing the report had snapped a picture.

The staff became alarmed because the person in the picture had been in Salazar’s office earlier that day to invite the Manassa Democrat to a health care rally sponsored by Republicans.

Lynn Bartels: 303-954-5327 or lbartels@denverpost.com