Bomb threat phone call shuts down Bannock County Courthouse

For the 6th time in recent weeks, the Bannock County Sheriff’s office evacuated a public building because of a phony bomb threat.

The county courthouse was closed at around 1 p.m. Thursday after someone called in a threat.

Sheriff Lorin Nielsen said the building was evacuated and everyone, including people called in for a jury pool, were sent home.

Dogs were called in to help deputies search the building, but nothing was found.

The courthouse was closed for the day at around 3:30 p.m. It will reopen on schedule Friday.

Nielsen said he plans to meet with county commissioners in a private meeting to discuss options Friday morning. He said he will also contact the U.S. Marshal’s office to see if federal law enforcement can help trace the source of the calls.

“This is all very expensive and very time consuming,” said Nielsen. ” It needs to stop.”