Bomb threat empties juvenile justice center

11/28/2007

About 250 people, including employees and prisoners, were evacuated from the Lucas County Juvenile Justice Center just before noon after a bomb threat was called in from a phone booth in Toledo's north end, a court administrator said.

Lucas County sheriff's deputies, Toledo police officers, and a bomb sniffing dog from the University of Toledo searched the building at 1801 Spielbusch Ave. and found no evidence of explosives, said Dan Pompa, court administrator.

A call indicating the detention center was going to blow up was made to 911 about 11:45 a.m. from a phone booth near North Erie and Galena streets, Mr. Pompa said.

All employees and prisoners were immediately evacuated. Approximately 65 prisoners were taken to an outdoor recreation center near the back of the justice center while authorities searched the building.

Once the back portion of the building was checked for explosives and declared

safe, prisoners were brought inside to a gymnasium. Mr. Pompa said there were no problems with the prisoners

during the incident.

The building was reopened about 1 p.m.

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