FAIRFIELD COUNTY, Ohio — A man several states away is connected to bomb threats made around Canal Winchester and Pickerington over the course of two days, according to the Fairfield County Sheriff's Office.
Canal Winchester Winchester schools closed Monday after a district spokesperson confirmed reports of a threat were received shortly before 7 a.m. Around the same time, a bomb threat was reported at Pickerington North High School.
The incidents came one day after the Fairfield County Sheriff’s Office said an unidentified man called and made several bomb threats at areas around the city of Canal Winchester on Sunday.
The sheriff’s office confirmed through an investigation that the suspect was located several states away from Ohio, closer to the west coast.
The sheriff’s office deemed all threats to be non-credible, but provided instructions on how to handle a situation in the instance additional threats are made.
- Write down all information the caller gives regarding the bomb, any instructions given, and any demands or threats made.
- Attempt to keep the caller on the line if possible while documenting as much information as possible.
- Be especially alert for any additional information that may be helpful in identifying the caller; and document information such as sex; approximate age; any distinct language accents, dialects, or speech difficulties and background noise and sounds.
- Immediately call 9-1-1.
The Fairfield County Sheriff’s Office tells 10TV there were 12 business closings, Sunday, in the span of six hours after non-credible bomb threats were made in and around the city. Monday morning another threat closed down the Walmart for a period of time so that it could be properly checked.
All businesses were located on the Gender Road corridor and all are now back open, according to the sheriff’s office.
Teri Robison has owned the Canal Wigwam since April. She said the events in the last two days have her diner buzzing.
“It’s a little nerve-racking for everybody,” she said. “But I don’t believe that [the threats] are real.”
Robison said people would also like to know who is responsible and why they targeted her small town.
“I’d like to know who it is,” she said. “We want to know why and why Canal Winchester of all places.”
BrewDog was one of those businesses that had to shut its doors.
In a statement to 10TV, Monday, BrewDog USA CEO Jason Block says he is appreciative for the investigation.
“We had to close our Canal Winchester location. While it is frustrating, we’re happy the threats were investigated and deemed false and that our community is safe.”
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