MAGNOLIA, Ark. (AP) — Proceedings at the Columbia County Circuit Court were briefly interrupted after a bomb threat forced the evacuation of the building.
The Banner-News reports that proceedings were halted Thursday morning after the threat was called in at about 9:15 a.m. Circuit Judge Larry Chandler was in the middle of recognizing six graduates from the Smarter Sentencing Program when a sheriff's deputy entered the courtroom and approached the bench.
Sheriff Mike Loe says the building was immediately evacuated while authorities searched for the explosive.
Loe says no bomb was found and that an investigation is ongoing to the source of the threat. Court proceedings resumed later in the morning.
©2012 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
