Sheriff’s Office is on a determined search for callers of phony bomb threats

Six phony bomb threats in two months – that’s how many calls the Bannock County Sheriff’s Office is investigating.

After yet another fake bomb threat evacuated the Bannock County courthouse Thursday afternoon, Sheriff Lorin Nielsen is reaching out for more help to stop these calls. He met with the county commissioners Friday morning and he has already contacted the U.S. Marshal, who has agreed to help. He also plans to call the U.S. Attorney’s office and the FBI to try to get help from them.

“It’s not funny, it’s not entertaining and it’s very expensive,” Sheriff Nielsen said.

He says for the safety of the public they are taking all the bomb calls very seriously, and they are using every available resource to put an end to the threats.

“If this is a juvenile, the parents better get ready to start paying. If this is a prankster, you’re going to pay for it and you’re going to be laughing in jail. And if this is a terrorist who is testing to see how we respond, we’re going to show them how well we respond,” Nielsen said, hoping whoever is behind the calls will hear his message.

“Enough is enough,” Nielsen said. “It’s not the time or the place to be doing this.”

The sheriff’s office is trying to trace where all of the phone calls came from.

“We will find out who’s doing this,” Nielsen said.

The sheriff’s office is encouraging anyone with information that could possibly help with this investigation to please come forward. You can call tips in at 236-7111 or submit them online athttp://www.bannockcounty.us/sheriff/tips.