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Goodland officials describe coordinated response to anonymous Walmart bomb threat; no device found
Summary
City and county agencies evacuated a Walmart store after an anonymous caller reported planted pipe bombs April 29; a multiagency command post, KHP bomb squad and explosive-detection dogs searched the store and cleared it about eight hours later with no device discovered.
City and county public-safety officials briefed the commission on an April 29 incident at a Walmart store that began with an anonymous phone threat claiming pipe bombs were planted in the building.
According to Chief Ehart and public-safety leaders, Walmart employees received an anonymous call claiming devices had been placed in the store and advising staff to evacuate within about 20 minutes. A multiagency response was initiated: local police, the fire chief, the county sheriff and a command staff worked together, and the Kansas Highway Patrol bomb squad deployed explosive-detection dogs for a thorough search.
Officials said officers checked vehicles matching the description the caller provided, made contact with several people and completed a methodical sweep of the facility. The store resumed normal operations roughly eight hours later after officials found no device.
Commissioners praised the coordinated response and interagency communication. No arrests or injuries were reported in the commission meeting recap.
