"Penalties are harsh:" Courthouse in Racine evacuated due to bomb threat; suspect photo released
RACINE --The Racine County Courthouse was evacuated Monday morning, October 26th because of a bomb threat. On Monday afternoon, officials release a photo of the suspect in this case, in the hopes that you can help to identify him.
Racine County Courthouse bomb threat suspect photo
The photo above shows the suspect using a pay phone near 13th and Lathrop.
According to the Racine County Sheriff's Office, the threat came in the form of a telephone call, shortly before 8:30 a.m.
The building was then evacuated.
Racine County Courthouse
"We have a protocol that we follow in these types of situations -- so every square inch of that building is searched," Racine County Sheriff Christopher Schmaling said.
A sign went up, indicating the building would be closed until 1:00 p.m. Steadily, people arrived to do business and were turned around.
Deputies stationed near Racine County Courthouse after bomb threat
"Coming from Fremont, Wisconsin. It`s up by Appleton. It`s about a two-and-a-half-hour drive. I came down. I`m working on a project in Sturtevant," Mike Haynes said.
John Miller showed up to pay taxes.
"It`s a bummer. Now I`ve got to go back. Hopefully I can come back," Miller said.
Then, Racine County Sheriff’s investigators and deputies conducted a thorough search of the building -- and the all clear was given around 1:00 p.m.
The Sheriff’s Office says during the course of this investigation, a location where the call was placed was identified.
Racine County Courthouse
"The penalties are harsh. This is a felony. I would not want to be the person that gets caught doing this. No doubt you`ve been spending some significant time in the building across the street called the Racine County Jail, if not prison," Sheriff Schmaling said.
No one has been taken into custody at this time. If you have any information that could help police identify the suspect in this case, you're asked to give them a call.
Racine County Courthouse evacuated
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