No bomb found following threat, evacuation at uptown courthouse, deputies say
Authorities say they found no bomb inside the Mecklenburg County Courthouse but cleared the building late Tuesday afternoon following an anonymous threat.
The caller said a bomb was in a courthouse bathroom but indicated no “time of detonation,” Mecklenburg County Chief Deputy Sheriff Rodney Collins said. Outside the courthouse, deputies told The Charlotte Observer the building had been searched and cleared shortly after 5 p.m.
At 5:39 p.m., CATS tweeted that “normal service has resumed,” referring to bus service.
When the threat was made, law enforcement in the courthouse immediately began an emergency protocol, Collins said, and the building was quickly evacuated.
Traffic was temporarily closed to cars in front of the courthouse on East 4th Street, but the road reopened shortly after 5 p.m. Outside the courthouse, on 3rd Street, a juror said he and others were evacuated but allowed to go back inside around 5:15 p.m. The case he was assigned to, however, was ultimately recessed for the day following the interruption.
Public buses serving uptown are affected, CATS tweeted around 5:10 p.m.
“Due to police activity in the uptown area, buses may be rerouted. We appreciate your understanding and will resume normal service as conditions permit,” CATS posted.
This story was originally published January 7, 2020 at 4:55 PM.