Bomb threat clears courthouse

Published 12:00 am Friday, October 7, 2005

Police evacuated the Mills E. Godwin Courthouse and blocked off part of North Main Street for more than an hour Thursday to investigate a bomb threat.

The threat was called into the courthouse around 10:15 a.m., said Lt. Debbie George, spokeswoman for the Suffolk Police Department. Firefighters searched the building, and finding nothing, reopened it around 11 a.m.

No arrests have been made.

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Dozens of people who were in the courthouse waited along North Main Street, grabbing coffee and chatting as they patiently waited.

&uot;It’s pretty inconvenient,&uot; said Portsmouth attorney Michael Massie, in the middle of a hearing when he had to leave the courthouse. &uot;But I guess it’s necessary when they have a threat called in.&uot;

Tara Stainback, who works for probation and parole, agreed.

&uot;It’s pretty annoying to have this happen when you are trying to get work done.&uot;

allison.williams@suffolknewsherald.com