Bomb threat in Eureka

According to a news release from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office, dated Aug. 8, 2011:
On August 8, 2011, at approximately 8:00 am the Humboldt County Sheriffs Office was notified of a bomb threat made to the North Coast Surgical Center, located at 2705 Harris Street, Eureka. The anonymous male caller made two separate calls stating a bomb would detonate at 11:00 a.m. The caller stated he was upset over a relative’s surgery that had been performed in the past at the Surgery Center. When deputies arrived on scene they spoke with medical staff at the surgery center and were told that an alert maintenance employee had located a suspicious box outside the building near Harris Street. Deputies looked at the box, which was about one foot square. The maintenance employee told the deputies the box had never been there before and should not have been where it was located. The box was found against the building in the bushes.  A decision was made to evacuate the building and stop traffic on Harris Street until the Sheriff’s Office Bomb Squad could respond to examine the box.

The California Highway Patrol and Eureka Police Department responded and assisted with traffic control. Humboldt Fire District responded along with City Ambulance, and staged at the Command Post. Nearby medical offices were notified and requested to shelter in place. The Sheriff’s Office Bomb Squad examined the suspicious box and determined it was empty at approximately 10:30 a.m. The surgery center was searched and no other suspicious packages or items were located. The investigation into the incident is continuing. The Federal Bureau of Investigations (F.B.I) has contacted the Sheriff’s office and will be assisting in the Investigation.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is requested to contact the Humboldt County Sheriffs Office at 445-7251.