Bomb threats reported at county courthouses across Oregon
PORTLAND, Ore. - 28 county courthouses across Oregon, and a state public services building in Salem, received bomb threats on Monday.
The threats came just four days after multiple bomb threats forced several courthouses in Washington state to evacuate, including in Clark County. There were also similar bomb threats made in Nebraska on Nov. 2.
In this instance, the threats began coming in at around 2:30 p.m. and continued for about an hour, according to the Oregon State Police. 22 of the 28 locations were evacuated while the others were not. No suspicious objects were found. Some of the counties that reported receiving threats here in Oregon:
- Baker County
- Benton County
- Clatsop County - Report from The Daily Astorian
- Crook County
- Curry County
- Deschutes County
- Gilliam County
- Grant County - Report from MyEagleNews.com
- Jackson County
- Jefferson County
- Klamath County - A caller phoned the county government center in Klamath County at 2:37 p.m. and "indicated there were explosives in the basement of the courthouse set to detonate within 25 minutes," said Undersheriff Jeanette Davidson. Both the government center and the courthouse were evacuated as a precaution, but no explosives were found and employees returned to work, she said.
- Lake County
- Lane County
- Lincoln County
- Malheur County
- Marion County
- Morrow County
- Multnomah County
- Polk County
- Sherman County
- Tillamook County - Report from the Tillamook Headlight Herald
- Umatilla County - All clear - no threat found. Call had come in to the courthouse's security department, according to Sgt. John Trumbo with the Umatilla County Sheriff's Office.
- Union County
- Wallowa County - Report from the Wallowa County Chieftan
- Wasco County
- Washington County - Sheriff's office has cleared the Washington County Courthouse. No threat found.
- Wheeler County
- Yamhill County - Report from The Register-Guard
The Oregon Public Service Building in Salem was also evacuated late Monday afternoon after receiving a similar threat. Employees were allowed back in around 4 p.m. The building is across the street from the state Capitol, which was not evacuated. In addition to the State Police headquarters, it houses offices for the Department of Education and the Secretary of State.
It is unknown at this point whether the threats in the three states are connected.
Anyone with information about the threats is asked to contact their local sheriff's department.
Whoever made these threats is a coward, is lazy, is stupid and has no reason to be breathing good air that could be used by good hard working citizens. They are so stupid they don't even realize it is costing them money also. Whether they work or not, which he or she probably does not, it still cost them money.  What I say to them, start contributing to the betterment of society or get off the bus now! I hope you read this you cowardly freak!
It's a symptom of people's growing frustration over a government that is becoming more and more non-representational. Expect there to be more of this in the coming years unless fundamental changes at all levels of government are made to the way they operate.
People have to much time on their hands.Â
Hope they are able to locate the bonehead responsible for the phony threats.
Today Lane County Courthouse and Public Service Building was evacuated at approx. 1500 hours and employees and customers were allowed to return at approx. 1535 hours.