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Sam Penrod reporting For the second time in as many days a bomb threat in Utah County sends police scurrying to a public building.
First it was a hospital in Provo, now the 4th District Courthouse in Orem.
The threat was ruled a hoax after the bomb squad went through the Fourth District Court building in Orem. Now police are looking for suspects.
It is the second bomb threat here in Utah County in the last 48 hours involving a public building. It is not clear if the threats are connected.
The call came into the courthouse, located near 97 E. Center in Orem, at 9:45 this morning. A man's voice said that a bomb was in the building and would go off. The courthouse staff immediately evacuated everyone inside, which included employees as well as several attorneys. There were also individuals there who were to go before the judge on mostly misdemeanor cases.
There were 19 people in police custody for court, they were transferred into holding cells next door at the Orem police department.
The Utah County bomb squad came in with bomb sniffing dogs. Within 90 minutes the all clear was given.
Because the courthouse is a secure building, police were confident the call was a threat and not real.
Lt Doug Edwards, Orem Police Dept.: "The likelihood of getting a bomb or bombs into the building is fairly remote. There is only one public entrance. It is guarded by electronic devices and also deputy sheriffs."
Today's threat follows one called in on Saturday night to the Utah Valley Regional Medical Center in Provo. The hospital went into lockdown until that threat could be cleared. That call was traced to a pay phone and police are still looking for suspects.
Orem detectives are also looking for suspects in today and want to make it clear that calling in a bomb threat is serious and will be charged as a felony.
