Bomb threat empties courthouse for 4 hours

Photo/WES KELLER FAMILY COURT IN PARKING LOT? It's not known what, if any, business of the court was conducted, but persons scheduled for Wednesday's Orangeville Family Court were summoned to this area of the parking lot when the courthouse was cleared over a bomb threat. A bomb threat led to the evacuation of the Dufferin County courthouse Wednesday, with staff of the county and the Ontario Superior and provincial courts left standing outside the building for nearly four hours.

When the evacuation order came, at about 9:30 a.m., everyone in the building on Zina Street was ordered to leave immediately and muster in the Elizabeth Street parking lot.

Everyone contacted, including Crown Attorney Mary Ellen Cullen, said they were forbidden to speak to the press, including even to say who had given that direction. Even a simple question such as "how many courts were in session?" was answered with a "no comment". A court clerk refused to confirm whether her court had been in session, which normally begins at 9 a.m.

Constable Al Buck, spokesperson for Dufferin OPP detachment, showed up for a scheduled 10 a.m. court case and did confirm that it was a bomb threat they were dealing with, but found himself waiting

outside with the crowd.

Scott Davis, media relations officer for Orangeville Police, said police had no reason to believe the bomb threat was real but no chances were being taken.

Two hours after the evacuation, local police were still waiting for the arrival of the OPP's bomb disposal unit and eventually the streets in the vicinity of the courthouse were blocked to traffic.

An unspecified number of prisoners awaiting a court appearance were transported to the Orangeville Police station lock up.

It appeared the all-clear had been given by about 1:30 p.m., when the roadblocks were removed, and by then the crowd had dispersed.

All court cases were cancelled for the day and court was to resume at 8:30 a.m., today (Thursday).

No other details about the bomb threat were available at press time.