Bomb Threat Received By Lancaster Police Department and Grant County Sheriff’s Office

On Tuesday, just prior to 4:00 PM, the Lancaster Police Department and Grant County Sheriff’s Department were notified that a message was sent to the suicide hotline that the courthouse was going to be bombed in 30 minutes and the person would then shoot up the courthouse with a handgun after that. Additionally, there was a vehicle description given. Both agencies responded and provided additional security in and around the courthouse. There was no matching vehicle present upon arrival or anytime prior to report. Nothing suspicious in nature was discovered. The courthouse had been staffed with courthouse security throughout the day with nothing suspicious observed. This incident is believed to likely be a “swatting” incident. Swatting is the action or practice of making a prank call to emergency services to bring about the dispatch of a large number of armed police officers to a particular address. Law enforcement takes reports of this nature seriously whether it is believed to be swatting or not. If you have valuable information regarding this incident, please contact the Lancaster Police Department at 608-723-4188 or the Grant County Sheriff’s Department at 608-723-2157.