Story Submitted
Madison County Sheriff Ben Stewart reports that Wednesday, Dec. 21 at approximately 11:25 a.m., courthouse security personnel contacted Under Sheriff Epp Richardson to advise that a deputy clerk in the courthouse had opened a letter they had received via mail. The letter stated that several bombs had been placed in the building and the letter was traced with anthrax.
At that time, Under Sheriff Epp Richardson directed courthouse security personnel to evacuate the building and begin an exterior search of the premises. Additional Sheriff’s Office personnel, the Madison Police Department and Madison County Emergency Management personnel responded to the scene and conducted an interior search of the building. The Sheriff’s Office DTF unit secured the letter and equipped themselves with personal protective equipment to further examine the letter and determined there was no active substance present. There were also no explosive devices located in or around the courthouse and the threat was determined to be false.
Courthouse personnel were then authorized to return to the building. The investigation into the threat remains pending and additional information will be provided as it becomes available.